Carpentras

Town hall

Coat of arms

Carpentras

Location within Provence-A.-C.d'A. region

Carpentras

Coordinates: 44°03′21″N 5°02′56″E / 44.0558°N 05.0489°ECoordinates: 44°03′21″N 5°02′56″E / 44.0558°N 05.0489°E

Country

France

Region

Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

Government

• Mayor (2014–2020)

Francis Adolphe (PS)

Area¹

37.92 km² (14.64 sq mi)

Population (2012)²

30,335

• Density

800/km² (2,100/sq mi)

Time zone

CET (UTC+1)

• Summer (DST)

CEST (UTC+2)

INSEE/Postal code

84031 / 84200

Elevation

56–212 m (184–696 ft)
(avg. 95 m or 312 ft)

¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

²Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Carpentras (French pronunciation: [kaʁpɑ̃tʁa]; Provençal Occitan: Carpentràs in classical norm or Carpentras in Mistralian norm) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.

It stands on the banks of the Auzon. 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.

Carpentras was a commercial site used by Greek merchants in ancient times, and known to Romans at first as Carpentoracte Meminorum, mentioned by Pliny, then renamed Forum Neronis ("Forum of Nero"); the city retains an impressive Roman triumphal arch, that has been enclosed by the bishops' palace, rebuilt in 1640, now a law court, and a machicolated city gate, the Porte d'Orange.

For the history of the bishopric of Carpentras, see Ancient Diocese of Carpentras.

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