Regional natural park of Luberon

The Regional natural park of the Luberon is a natural park in Luberon, mountainous solid mass French relatively low which extends from is in west between the Alp-of-High-Provence and the Vaucluse is which includes/understands three “mountains”: the Eastern Luberon , the Large Luberon and the Small Luberon . It shelters a fauna and a flora of an exceptional diversity, as well as an architectural and landscape heritage of great value.

Situation

The park extends on two departments, the Vaucluse (84) and the Alp-of-High-Provence (04) and it accommodates 72 communes since 2005 and 155.000 inhabitants. It has a surface of 174.726 Hectares and extends from Cavaillon in the west until the limit of the Regional natural park of the Verdon in the east, the Durance acting as border between the two. In north, Luberon is bordered by the valleys of Coulon-Calavon and the Loose one, where one distinguishes the basin from Apt, in the West, of that of Manosque-Forcalquier, in the east. Always towards north, the Mounts of Vaucluse are used of buttress with the solid masses of Ventoux and Lure. Towards the south, Luberon dominates the basin of the Durance and the country the Acute ones.

The territory of the park

Communes of the zone of influence of the park

They are in fact communes in the " zone of influence of the parc" , communes having signed the charter of the Park. They are 72 and covers communes of northern Luberon and southern Luberon, but also of the valley of Calavon and southern part of the Monts of Vaucluse like Gordes or Joucas.

Geology

On the geological time scale, Luberon consists of rocks dating from the end of the secondary era until in the middle of the tertiary era .

The mountainous solid mass is made of secondary grounds (lower Crétacé), the plain which surrounds it is mainly tertiary.

This area is for this reason known as rich person in fossils of the end of the secondary era

The " Small Luberon" consists of a very broad zone of Calcaire S marly half-compartments by harder limestone benches (Néocomien) formant of large cliffs. On the northern slope, it is the Barrémien which occupies more large surface.

The " Large Luberon" is him formed of marly limestones which give him its round aspect (Hauterivien).

Relief

All the territory of the regional natural park of Luberon is marked by a broken relief intersected with broad vallées.
In the north of the park, solid mass of the Mounts of Vaucluse directed East-West form the buttress with the mountains of the Ventoux and of Lure.
In the west, the plains of Joucas and Coustellet are separated from the basin of Apt by the hills of Goult and Roussillon.
In the center of the park, the " mountain of Luberon " is the spinal column of the park and constitutes the principal relief. Its slopes directed in the south are very steep whereas its slopes north are softer towards the basin of Apt.
the Eastern End of the solid mass forms Luberon Oriental with a formed rounder relief of hills to the soft slopes dominated by the top of Bellevue.
To the south, the valley of the Durance skirts the park. The autumn and the snow melt in winter can widen the bed up to 1 km by place. A strong percentage of water feeds from the stoppings and the channels intended for the various needs for the man (irrigation, domestic water, energy…)

Recognition of UNESCO

In December 1997, Luberon was officially admitted by UNESCO (United Nations for education, science and the culture) in the world network of the reserves of biosphere (MAB).

The charter of the park

According to article 3 of the Charter: " the delimitation of the perimeter of the Regional natural park of Luberon reconciles two approaches:

a territorial approach founded on physical and biogeographic criteria
a socio-economic approach taking of account existing relations between the city-centers (Apt, Cavaillon, Manosque, Sluice) and the rural communes environnantes."

List adherent communes with the charter of the PNR Luberon

Luberon obtains the classification " natural park régional" in 1977. This classification was renewed for 10 years, by a decree of May 28th, 1997. 71 communes approved the charter of the regional natural park of Luberon.

The adherent communes with the regional natural park of Luberon (February 2005) are:

The soil

The ocher of Roussillon gave its color to the houses

The sea while being withdrawn million years ago bequeathed to the men a sedimentary treasure: the Ocher , invaluable coloring. Close to the village of Roussillon, great careers were exploited since the end of the XVIIIe century. They employed 1.000 people until 1930. Today, with Gargas, a half-dozen work there. It remains red a cliff landscape about it carved at the same time by nature and the craftsmen. The site is returned to the walkers. Ocher was used in the coating of the frontages, for the wallpapers and the oil-cloth.

Activitées economic

Agriculture (fruits, vegetables, wines, sheep, lavender), agro-alimentary (confectionery, conditioning, forwarding), tourism.

External bonds

Card of the park, protected area/Site will natura 2000
the atlas of the park

Sources and notes

Most of the texts are drawn from the page Massif of Luberon

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