Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Bouches-du-Rhône
| Bouches-du-Rhône | |
|---|---|
Coat of Arms of Bouches-du-Rhône | |
| Information | |
| Number | 13 |
| Region | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur |
| Prefecture | Marseille |
| Subprefectures | Aix-en-Provence Arles Istres |
| Population | Ranked 3rd
361 /km² |
| Area | 5,087 km² |
| Arrondissements | 4 |
| Cantons | 58 |
| Communes | 119 |
| President of the general council | Jean-Noël Guérini |
| Location | |
 | |
Bouches-du-Rhône is a département in the south of France named after the mouth of the Rhone River.
| Contents |
History
Bouches-du-Rhône was one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. It was created from part of Provence and the principalities of Orange, Martigues, and Lambesc . It lost part of its territory, including Orange and Apt, when the department of Vaucluse was created.
Marseille has been an important harbor since before Julius Caesar's conquest of Gaul.
Geography
The department is part of the current region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. It is surrounded by the departments of Gard on the west, Vaucluse on the north, and Var on the east, and by the Mediterranean Sea on the south.
Marseille is an important harbor.
Other significant cities include:
Rivers include:
- Rhone, which forms the border with the department of Gard
- Rhone delta (la Camargue)
Mountains include:
Culture
The department is well represented in French art. Paul Cézanne painted numerous representations of the Mont Sainte-Victoire. Vincent van Gogh spent much of his life in Aix-en-Provence, painting many scenes in the area.
Tourism
- Cities of Marseille and Aix-en-Provence
- Roman and Romanesque monuments of Arles
- The Camargue and the city of Saintes Maries de la Mer
- Alphonse Daudet's windmill in Fontvieille
- Les Baux de Provence, medieval village
- Saint Rémy de Provence and the ruins of the Roman city of Glanum
- Tarascon, medieval castle and church
External links
- Conseil General website (in French)
- http://www.camargue.com.fr/ (in French)
- http://www.guideweb.com/camargue/ (in French)
- http://www.avignon-et-provence.com/camargue/ (in French)
- http://www.beyond.fr/sites/camargue.html
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