Orange is a commune in the Vaucluse Department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azurregion in southeastern France, about 21 km (13 mi) north of Avignon. It has a primarily agricultural economy.
| Country | France |
|---|---|
| Region | Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur |
| Department | Vaucluse |
| Canton | Orange |
| Government | |
| Mayor (2020–2026) | Jacques Bompard |
| Area1 | 74.2 km2 (28.6 sq mi) |
| Population | 28,919 |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
Location
The city of Orange is located in the Rhône valley , north-west of Vaucluse . It is located at a crossroads being relatively close to Lyon (195 km ), Marseille (120 km ) and Montpellier (105 km ). As the crow flies, the city is located about 560 km from Paris .Orange is the starting point of the Route des Princes d’Orange .
Economy
- The Isover – Saint-Gobain company has been established in the Coudoulet district since 1972 (manufacture of glass and rock wool).
- ASF has its regional management and intervention teams totaling more than 300 people.
- The Air Force has been in operation since 1939: the Orange-Caritat 115 base .
- The Orange Louis-Giorgi hospital located to the east of the town employs more than 500 people.
- Office of the CCI of Vaucluse .
Like any city of this size, the city center of Orange has many local shops, as well as several shopping areas on the outskirts, surrounding supermarkets. There is also a market on Tuesday evening and Thursday morning.
Agriculture
Truffle culture
The flagship of French gastronomy, the truffle is a Provencal specialty, since the region produces 80% of the truffles in France . The Vaucluse, around the piedmont of Mont Ventoux, is, with the Drôme Provençale , the leading producer of Tuber melanosporum . Every year, the truffle growers organize weekends to discover rabasse in-situ in the municipalities of Visan , Bonnieux , Monieux , Orange and Saint-Pierre-de-Vassols.
Olive growing
The olive groves of the town are suitable for producing olive oil from Provence , protected by a controlled designation of origin ( AOC ).
Viticulture
The vineyard produces wines classified in Côtes-du-Rhône and Châteauneuf-du-Pape on the Grès d’Orange terroir . The wines which are not in controlled label of origin can claim, after approval, the label vin de pays of the Principality of Orange.
Transport
The Orange train station is in the city center. The station is served by TGV Paris – Miramas (two outward and two return trips per day) as well as by three TER PACA and Rhône-Alpes lines .
Education
The city is located in the Aix-Marseille academy . It operates seventeen primary schools (seven nursery schools and ten elementary schools ) spread over the whole city. The city center is also affected by the presence of two private Catholic schools (the Notre-Dame and the Nativity schools).
The department manages three colleges: Arausio, Barbara-Hendricks , Jean-Giono. A private college: Saint-Louis. The Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region manages a public high school for general and technological education the high school of Arc, two professional high schools : Aristide-Briand (Bac pro shops and services) and Argensol for trades around the automobile, micro technique and boiler making (from CAP to BTS) as well as an agricultural school: The wine school of Château Mongin near the place called Boisfeuillet.
Local Culture and Heritage
Places and monuments
Since 1981, several monuments in Orange have been listed in the UNESCO world monuments directory. Many monuments in Orange are also classified or registered as historical monuments. The Îlot Pontillac, located rue Pontillac, is one of the examples of an architectural ensemble combining various historical monuments from very different eras and uses.
Roman remains
We find, in the commune, many Roman remains, including ancient walls or the ancient theater of Orange dating from the i st century and was built on the foothills of the hill Saint-Eutrope. The exceptional state of conservation of its stage wall makes it a major attraction and offers the choreographies a unique performance venue in France. There is also the Triumphal Arch of Orange which, situated at the entrance of the city, is also the i st century, the wall of the ancient forum located Pontillac street or Roman gymnasium .
Civil heritage
The civil architectural heritage of this former principality is quite rich, as were some of its inhabitants over the centuries.
In addition to the castle of the princes of Orange , there are several mansions and bourgeois houses such as the hotels de Jonc and Monier-Vinard d’Orange, the house 4, rue de Tourre-d’Orange, the medieval house of ‘Orange known as the Roman House, or the current town hall.
Religious heritage
- the Notre-Dame-de-Nazareth cathedral
- The Saint-Martin temple
- the Grand Temple
Cultural heritage
Gastronomic specialties
The city of Orange has many recent sweet specialties marketed by local artisans:
- the shortbread of the Theater;
- the Augustines;
- Orangines;
- Orange wine: sweet table wine.
Sport
Several facilities are present in the town, whether private or municipal. The town offers several sports complexes and stadiums, a room for the practice of Martial Arts (dojo), the “Ferme des Courrèges” (Orange Raquettes Club) equipped with six tennis courts, four of which are lit and two covered, four squash courts , two padel courts and two ping-pong rooms, a fitness trail and a park (Parc de la Brunette) with a space reserved for pétanque and 20 games for boule lyonnaise.
