CAVAILLON 135

A little of History
The name of Cavaillon evokes the fields of the scoops which compose, around the city, a well cultivated market garden landscape.

It evokes the fragrant melons which make its glory, but there is not only it.

Cavaillon is in the heart of the most beautiful sites of Proven-cal; the site of the hill Saint Jacques, in front of Luberon (mountains), dominates the plain of the Durance ( river).

This Hill was an oppidum of period Celtic - Ligurian of the Cavares, the classic art Cabellio, placed under the control of Massalia until the fall of this last one.

The town came down then from the hill and became prosper-ous one Latin colony.

It had in the Middle Age two famous bishops: in 6 ° century after JC, Saint Véran, the person in charge of the herdsmen and in 14 ° century Philippe Cabassole, the friend of Pétrar-que, the big poet and familiar Italian humanist of the papal court.

Door of Luberon, Cavaillon invites you in the discovery of the Regional Natural reserve of Luberon which extends over both departments of Vaucluse and the Alps of High Proven-cal.
Territory living on 165 000 hectares containing 69 munici-palities and 150 000 Inhabitants.

On the West there is a Petit Luberon the height of which is 700 metres; the landscape is bumped with high cliffs lime-stone, secret coomb, forests of cedars and gorges.

In the East, it is Grand Luberon the highlight of which is Mourre Nègre in 1 125 metres in height with its massive forms round off.

Villages perched by Luberon are very picturesque; the peas-ant markets, from May till November, the products of the soil as the honey, the candied fruits and the wines of naming " official lists of Luberon " are always appreciated walkers.
( J. L. Cavaillon 135)