Forcalquier (in Occitan Of Provence: , writing Forcauquier according to the traditional standard or Fourcauquié according to the Norme mistralienne) is a common French, located in the department of the Alp-of-High-Provence and the area Provence-Alp-Coast of Azure.

Its inhabitants is called Forcalquiérens.

Currency

Puses aut that the AUP (higher than the Alps).

Nicknames

Cité des 4 queens or the city comtale.

Geography

Forcalquier is located between the Montagne of Lure and the Luberon, at the edge of Via Domitia. Its name would mean is " the source of the rocher" , that is to say, more probably, " Furnace with chaux".

The Citadel, in the center of the city, is a whole of fortifications on a hill, surmounted by our-Lady-of-Provence vault.

The old city, dating from the 13th century for certain residences, is made narrow lanes and places. It is at that time that the city knew its strongest density, with probably nearly 10.000 inhabitants. Certain houses, too decayed, are abandoned with the profit of recent houses which extend the surface of the agglomeration.

Photographs

History

At the beginning of the the Middle Ages, Forcalquier was a possession of the counts de Provence, which échut with the count Foulques Bertrand. At the 12th century, the county of Provence, undivided possession between several counts, was divided and one of the three parts was allocated to the countess Adélaïde, widow of a count d' Urgel. The county of Forcalquier was maintained for one century before being plain by marriage with that of Provence by Raymond-Berenger IV and preserved by multiple battles against his/her cousin Raymond VII of Toulouse. Not having had of male heir, it Maria her four daughters Marguerite of Provence, Éléonore of Provence, Sancie of Provence, and Beatrice of Provence to four kings of which Louis IX and Henri III of England for the elder ones. The returning county with Béatrice, her marriage with Charles of Anjou brother of Saint-Louis made subject Provence to the kingdom of France, but it is only in 1481 that it passed to the crown.

Administration

Demography

Places and monuments

The history left many monuments in Forcalquier, in particular:
  • the Notre Dame Citadel of Provence (1875) and her manual Chime
  • the Notre Dame Cathedral of Bourguet (XIII and XVIIe centuries)
  • the Place Saint-Michel
  • the church Midsummer's Day
  • the convent franciscain " Cordeliers" (13th century)
  • the convent with cloister " Visitandines" (17th century)
  • the municipal museum (movable old, costumes of High Provence, archeology…)

Surroundings

Twinning

Activities

Every Monday morning, the market of Forcalquier is one of the local main markets, which proposes foodstuffs, products of the craft industry or of clothing.

Personalities related to the commune

See too

  • Common of Alp-of-High-Provence

External bonds

  • Tourist Official site Office of Forcalquier
  • Forcalquier on the site of the national geographical Institute
  • Forcalquier on the site of INSEE
  • Forcalquier on the site of Quid
  • Localization of Forcalquier on a chart of France and communes bordering
  • Plane on Forcalquier on Mapquest

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