Vauvenargues, Bouches-du-Rhône

Vauvenargues
Commune
Vauvenargues castle
Coat of arms
Vauvenargues Location within Provence-A.-C.d'A. region  Vauvenargues
Coordinates: 43°33′20″N 5°36′13″E / 43.5556°N 5.6036°E / 43.5556; 5.6036Coordinates: 43°33′20″N 5°36′13″E / 43.5556°N 5.6036°E / 43.5556; 5.6036
Country	France
Region	Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Department	Bouches-du-Rhône
Arrondissement	Aix-en-Provence
Canton	Trets
Intercommunality	Aix-Marseille-Provence
Government
• Mayor (2014–2020)	Philippe Charrin (PR)
Area1	54.31 km2 (20.97 sq mi)
Population (2008)2	921
• Density	17/km2 (44/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
INSEE/Postal code	13111 /13126
Elevation	346–1,016 m (1,135–3,333 ft) (avg. 458 m or 1,503 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.

Vauvenargues is a commune in the Bouches-du-Rhône department in southern France. It is close to Aix-en-Provence and the Montagne Sainte-Victoire.

The chateau in Vauvenargues stands on the site of a Roman fort which eventually was incorporated in a medieval fortress controlled by the Counts of Provence and later the Archbishops of Aix. For 250 years until the French revolution it was the seat of the de Clapiers family, who rebuilt the chateau in its present form and on whom Louis XV bestowed the title Marquis of Vauvernagues. For 150 years after that it was occupied by the d'Isoard family. In the mid-twentieth century its connection with French nobility lapsed. It was eventually bought in 1958 by Pablo Picasso, who was resident until 1962. Picasso and his wife Jacqueline are buried in the forecourt of the chateau, which is still the private property of the Picasso family.