Valréas

French commune
nomcommune=Valréas
View of Valréas
région=Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
département=Vaucluse
arrondissement=Avignon
canton=Valréas
insee=138
cp=84600
maire=Nadège Savajols
mandat=2004-2008
intercomm=Communauté de communes de l'Enclave des Papes
longitude=4.99111111111
latitude=44.385
alt moy=250m
alt mini=158 m
alt maxi=530 m
hectares=5,797
km²=57.97
sans=9,431
date-sans=1999
dens=163
date-dens=1999

Valréas is a town and commune of the Vaucluse "département", in France.

History

The area around the town of Valréas is known as "L'Enclave des Papes" within the department of Vaucluse. It is an enclave of Vaucluse, surrounded by the department of the Drôme. The foundation of the Enclave began in 1317 when Pope John XXII bought Valreas for the papacy of Avignon. The story goes that following a visit to Valreas, feeling unwell he was offered some wine from the area. Liking it he decided to purchase the town to ensure his wine supply. Over the next 150 years or so his successors added to the Enclave by the addition of the small towns of Visan, Richerenches and Grillon. The boundaries were defined by tall stone markers carrying the coat of Arms of the Popes. The present day boundaries are still delimited by some of theses stones, one of which is outside the entrance to the Valreas Tourist office. When the departments of France were created post Revolution the people of the Enclave requested to remain as part of the department of Vaucluse (see Comtat Venaissin). Hence the "Enclave des Papes".

Twin towns

Valréas is twinned with:
* Sachsenheim, Germany
* Saint Paul de Joliette, Quebec, Canada
* Montignoso, Italy