Carpentras

Carpentras is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region in southeastern France.

As capital of the Comtat Venaissin, it was frequently the residence of the Avignon popes; the Papal States retained possession of the Venaissin until the French Revolution. Nowadays, Carpentras is a commercial center for Comtat Venaissin and is famous for the black truffle markets held from winter to early spring.

Tourism and main attractions

The country of Carpentras and Comtat Venaissin is classified as a Country of Art and History.

Civil and natural heritage:

The Arc de Carpentras, from the 1st century (Classified as a Historic Monument)
The Belfry tower built in the 15th century with its richly crafted wrought iron bell tower and its 16th century clock, marks the location of the castle built in the 12th century by the counts of Toulouse. (Classified Historic Monument).

The “Passage Boyer” (mid-19th century), also nicknamed “rue Vitrée”, is a street covered by a glass roof supported by arches and a metal frame 90 meters long and 5 meters wide.
The former bishopric (current courthouse) 17th century. Historic monument.
La Charité with its two floors of arches and Italian-style loggias, a hospice, then an educational establishment and today a cultural center.
The Orange Gate, witness to the military architecture of the 14th century, twenty-seven meters high.
The Inguimbertine library (classified municipal library, archives and museums of Carpentras).

The Jesuit college built in the 17th century, where Jean-Henri Fabre taught from 1842 to 1848 and whose buildings remained dedicated to teaching until 1988.
The birthplace of François-Vincent Raspail.

The Post Office inaugurated in 1911, in the building occupied by the stores of Mr. Albert Lunel (grandfather of Armand Lunel).
The Château de la Roseraie (19th-20th century) for its remarkable garden.
Château du Martinet and its park.

Facade of building “Le petit Marseillais”, place Général-de-Gaulle. Historic monument.
The Hôtel-Dieu de Carpentras with its old pharmacy. This majestic 18th century building was built at the request of Monsignor Joseph-Dominique d’Inguimbert who rests in the baroque chapel. The apothecary has retained its original state.
The Hôtel d’Armand de Chateauvieux (Sobirats Museum, from the family of the same name which originated in the Dauphiné).

The Carpentras canal.
Aqueduct. Historic monument.
The Angel Fountain in Carpentras (1731-1904) 123, Place de l’Horloge, then (2004-ongoing) Place Maurice-Charretier.

Religious heritage:

Saint-Siffrein Cathedral, Place du Général De Gaulle, was built in the 15th century in honor of the city’s patron saint. In Provençal Gothic style, it contains, in addition to the famous Saint Mors, works of art of high value.
The Notre-Dame-de-l’Observance church, rue de l’Observance, was built in the 16th century by the Observantins, closed during the French Revolution, reopened then partially rebuilt in the 19th century after a fire. Several styles coexist, notably the neo-Gothic with its spire. It contains works by Jacques Bernus as well as large groups of 19th century stained glass windows.

Church of the Immaculée-Conception in Carpentras. It is listed in the General Inventory of Cultural Heritage.
The Notre-Dame-de-Santé chapel, avenue Notre-Dame de Santé, took the name Notre Dame de Santé following the plague of 1629.

The Dominican convent, place du 25, which notably housed the old theater, and whose rehabilitation began in 2005 to accommodate the tourist office, the Maison de Pays and the Architecture and Heritage Interpretation Center.