Vaucluse

Mountain range in southeast France, part of the Provence Alps east of Avignon, rising to 1,242 m/4,075 ft. It gives its name to the département of Vaucluse. The Italian poet Petrarch lived in the Vale of Vaucluse from 1337 to 1353.

Vaucluse

Département in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southeastern France; area 3,566 sq km/1,377 sq mi; population (1999 est) 499,700. It is bordered on the west by the lower reaches of the River Rhône and on the south by the Durance. Vaucluse is drained by the rivers Eygues, Sorgue, Ouveze, and Coulon. It is known for its wines (including Châteauneuf-du-Pape) and its fruit. Olives, cereals, silk, and livestock are also produced. The chief industries are textiles, chemicals, and foodstuffs. The major towns are Avignon (the administrative centre), Carpentras, and Apt.

The name Vaucluse derives from the mountain range in the east of the département, outliers of the Provence Alps. The département consists of parts of the former provinces of Comtat Venaissin and Provence.