Bonnieux

Bonnieux
The new church of Bonnieux
Coat of arms
Bonnieux
Location within Provence-A.-C.d'A. region Bonnieux
Coordinates:
Country	France
Region	Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Department	Vaucluse
Arrondissement	Apt
Canton	Bonnieux
Government
• Mayor (2001–2008)	Roger Fenelon
Area1	51.12 km2 (19.74 sq mi)
Population (2006)2	1,441
• Density	28/km2 (73/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code	84020 / 84480
Elevation	153–715 m (502–2,346 ft) (avg. 420 m or 1,380 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Bonnieux is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. In the plain below the village stands the notable Roman bridge the Pont Julien.

Geography

Bonnieux is one of the many historic "hill villages" in the region. Dating back to Roman times, it rests on top of the Luberon hills casting a watchful gaze across the rest of the valley. Next to the village is a Cedar forest that began with trees imported from North Africa during the Napoleonic era. It sits opposite Mont Ventoux, other notable villages in the area include Ménerbes, Lacoste, Roussillon, and Gordes.

The commune is traversed by the river Calavon.

History

The region has been occupied since neolithic times, with evidence scattered throughout the Luberon. Monuments dating from Roman times exist near the village including the Pont Julien built in 3 BC located only 3 miles to the north. A monastery was first built at that location in the 6th century, and walls were in place by the 10th century. The town reached a maximum population in the mid 19th century, with 2804 people in 1841. It has since declined to less than half its peak with 1363 in 2004.

See also

• Côtes du Luberon AOC
• Communes of the Vaucluse department

References

• INSEE

External links

• The Village of Bonnieux