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Tarascon
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Tarascon, sometimes referred to as Tarascon-sur-Rhône, is a town and commune in the Bouches-du-Rhône département, in the south of France.
Geography
Tarascon is located south of Avignon and north of Arles, on the left (east) bank of the Rhône River.
Discussion
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Encyclopedia
Tarascon, sometimes referred to as Tarascon-sur-Rhône, is a town and commune in the Bouches-du-Rhône département, in the south of France.
Geography
Tarascon is located south of Avignon and north of Arles, on the left (east) bank of the Rhône River. On the other side is the similarly sized town of Beaucaire in the département of Gard, région of Languedoc-Roussillon. Directly opposite each other and connected by several bridges, Beaucaire and Tarascon effectively constitute one town.
Hamlets located on the territory of the commune include:
- Lansac
- Saint-Gabriel (ancient Ernaginum)
Culture
A mythological monster, the Tarasque, is said to have lived there at the beginning of the 1st century. It was purportedly tamed by Martha in 48 AD. See Tarasque for the whole story and more pictures.
The novel Tartarin de Tarascon (1872) and its two sequels Tartarin sur les Alpes (1885) and Port-Tarascon (1890), by Alphonse Daudet, were set here.
Since 1985, there has been a small museum in the town, dedicated to the fictional character Tartarin.
A festival is held every year on the last Sunday of June to remember Tartarin and the Tarasque.
Highlights
The Collegiate Church
Église collégiale Ste Marthe (St Martha's Collegiate Church) is where, according to a local tradition, the biblical figure Martha is buried. The church was built half-Romanesque in the 12th century and half-Gothic in the 14th century. The crypt dates from the 3rd century.
The medieval castle
The construction of the current castle of Tarascon was started in 1401 by Louis II of Anjou, after the previous castle was destroyed. The construction was continued by his first son, Louis III of Anjou, and was completed in 1449 by his second son, René I of Naples. Thus, the castle is often referred to as le château du roi René ("King René's castle").
It was turned into a military prison in the 17th century, until its acquisition by the state in 1932.
It stands right on the banks of the Rhône opposite Beaucaire Castle, and near the Collegiate Church of St Martha. (
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Other highlights include
- Historical town centre, including the rue des Halles and its arcades
- Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall) (1648)
- Cloître des Cordeliers, 16th century cloister
- Three city gates remain from the former city wall: Portail St. Jean, Porte de la Condamine and Porte Jarnègues.
- Saint-Jacques Church (1740)
- Saint-Michel de Frigolet abbey
Administration
| Mandate | Name | Party | Title |
|---|
| 1935 - 1940 | Numa Corbessas | - | Mayor | | 1940 - 1941 | Eugène Barthélémy | - | Mayor | | 1941 - 1944 | Etienne Philip | - | Mayor | | 1944 | Commission spéciale | - | - | | 1944 - 1947 | Numa Corbessas | - | Mayor | | 1947 - 1965 | Honoré Valette | - | Mayor | | 1965 - 1971 | (Colonel) Jean André | - | Mayor | | 1971 - 1983 | Antonin Saint Michel | PS | Mayor | | 1983 - 2002 | Thérèse Aillaud | RPR | Mayor | | 2002 - 2005 | Jean Reynaud | UMP | Mayor | | 2005 - current | Charles Fabre | UMP | Mayor |
Transportation
Tarascon is served by a train station and several buses.
The GR 6 footpath runs through Tarascon.
Miscellaneous
Famous residents
Twin towns
See also
External links
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