Commune in Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France
Commune in Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France
Salon-de-Provence
(
French pronunciation:
[sal??
d(?)
p??v??s]
,
locally
[sa?l???
d?
pχo?vaⁿs?]
;
Provencal Occitan
:
Selon de Provenca/Seloun de Provenco
,
[se?lu
de
p?u?v?ns?]
), commonly known as
Salon
, is a
commune
located about 52 km (32 mi) northwest of
Marseille
in the
Bouches-du-Rhone
department
(Metropolis of Aix-Marseille Provence),
region
of
Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur
,
Southern France
. It is the home of an important
French Air and Space Force
(
Armee de l'Air et de l'Espace
)
air base
.
History
[
edit
]
Salon was a
Gallo-Roman
oppidum
well positioned on the
salt trade routes
between
Adriatic
,
Atlantic
and
Mediterranean
seas, hence its name. This region was under the
Phocaean
influence since the sixth century BC, and stretches of the
Via Aurelia
can still be recognized just outside the town, but the earliest mention of the place under its familiar name is of the ninth century, as
Villa Salone
. The archbishops of Arles controlled the site.
Its principal claim to fame today is as the place where
Nostradamus
spent his last years and is buried. His dwelling is maintained as a museum, and for four days every June or July, the city celebrates its history during the time of Nostradamus, attracting tourists.
The historic center still lies within its circuit of walls, entered through two seventeenth-century gateways, the
Porte de l'Horloge
and the
Porte du Bourg Neuf
.
In 1559 the engineer
Adam de Craponne
opened the
Canal de Craponne
to bring fresh water from the river
Durance
to the town and the surrounding
plain of Crau
. Inexpensive freight brought commerce to Salon, and the town prospered.
Sights
[
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]
Chateau de l'Emperi
[
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]
The castle, which was the biggest in
Provence
during the 12th and 13th centuries and was mentioned as early as the tenth, still dominates the old town. It was the preferred residence of the bishops of
Arles
, when Provence was part of the
Holy Roman Empire
, hence its name. It became the property of the city after the
French Revolution
. After damage caused by the
1909 earthquake
, it has been restored and now hosts a museum of military history. Every summer, it hosts an international classical music festival.
Fontaine Moussue
[
edit
]
The fountain in Place Crousillat has existed since the 16th century. During the 20th century, limestone concretions and vegetation developed, giving the familiar mushroom aspect.
St Michel Chapel
[
edit
]
Built during the 13th century, this chapel boasts a remarkable
Romanesque
tympanum
featuring the
paschal lamb
.
Collegiale Saint Laurent
[
edit
]
The current edifice was erected during 15th century by Cardinal
Louis Aleman
, who was then bishop of Arles.
Salon-de-Provence Air Base
[
edit
]
Salon-de-Provence Air Base
is the site of the
French Air Force Academy
, as well as the home of the French Aerial Demonstration team, the
Patrouille de France
.
Market
[
edit
]
Every Wednesday the Place Morgan is host to a Provencal market.
Culture
[
edit
]
Each summer, the
Chateau de l'Emperi
hosts a festival of
chamber music
.
Some years the Chateau is the venue for
Nostradamiques
– an historical re-enactment of the time of Nostradamus which includes processions and a transformation of the old medieval downtown. One such re-enactment was performed by the television presenter
Jean-Pierre Foucault
. In 2006
Robert Hossein
compered the closing ceremony of the re-enactment.
Personalities
[
edit
]
- Abba Mari ben Eligdor
(fl.1335), distinguished Talmudist, philosopher, resident 14th Century
- Nostradamus
(1503?1566), resident 1547?66, place of death
- Adam de Craponne
(1526?1576), engineer, born in Salon
- Miqueu Tronc
(16th century),
Occitan language
writer
- Jean Baptiste Christophore Fusee Aublet
(1720?1778), French botanist and explorer, birthplace
- Joan Montseny
(1864-1942), Catalan anarchist, place of death
- Charles Trenet
(1913-2001), French singer, resident for military reasons, 1939?1940
- Romain Gary
(1914?1980), French novelist and pilot, learnt to fly with military in Salon-de-Provence before Nazi occupation of France
- Patrick Baudry
(1946-), and
Leopold Eyharts
(1957-), French
astronauts
, military training
- Daniel Goossens
(1954-), Cartoonist, birthplace
- Christine Boisson
(1956-), French actor, birthplace
- Franck Esposito
(1971-), French swimmer, birthplace
- Michael N'dri
(1984-), footballer, birthplace and early Football career
- Mathieu Arzeno
(1987-), racing driver, birthplace
- Simon Porte Jacquemus
(1990-), Fashion Designer
[3]
- Nassourdine Imavov
(1995-), MMA fighter, former resident
- Sakina Karchaoui
(1996-), footballer for
Paris Saint-Germain
and the
France national team
Twin towns ? sister cities
[
edit
]
Salon-de-Provence is
twinned
with:
[4]
Gallery
[
edit
]
-
-
Fontaine Moussue by night
-
St Michel, inside
-
Tympanum
, Eglise St-Michel
-
Collegiale Saint Laurent, after 2008/2009 restorations
-
Jardin de la Republique
-
Sausages, market at Place Morgan
-
Mushrooms, market at Place Morgan
-
Paella, market at Place Morgan
Population
[
edit
]
Historical population
Year
| Pop.
| ±% p.a.
|
---|
1793
| 6,787
| ?
|
---|
1800
| 5,100
| ?4.00%
|
---|
1806
| 5,167
| +0.22%
|
---|
1821
| 5,864
| +0.85%
|
---|
1831
| 5,987
| +0.21%
|
---|
1836
| 5,793
| ?0.66%
|
---|
1841
| 5,617
| ?0.62%
|
---|
1846
| 6,355
| +2.50%
|
---|
1851
| 6,564
| +0.65%
|
---|
1856
| 7,057
| +1.46%
|
---|
1861
| 6,533
| ?1.53%
|
---|
1866
| 6,714
| +0.55%
|
---|
1872
| 7,522
| +1.91%
|
---|
1876
| 7,021
| ?1.71%
|
---|
1881
| 7,503
| +1.34%
|
---|
1886
| 8,598
| +2.76%
|
---|
1891
| 9,152
| +1.26%
|
---|
1896
| 10,936
| +3.63%
|
---|
| Year
| Pop.
| ±% p.a.
|
---|
1901
| 12,872
| +3.31%
|
---|
1906
| 14,050
| +1.77%
|
---|
1911
| 14,019
| ?0.04%
|
---|
1921
| 13,155
| ?0.63%
|
---|
1926
| 12,900
| ?0.39%
|
---|
1931
| 13,193
| +0.45%
|
---|
1936
| 13,482
| +0.43%
|
---|
1946
| 15,826
| +1.62%
|
---|
1954
| 17,597
| +1.33%
|
---|
1962
| 21,393
| +2.47%
|
---|
1968
| 30,722
| +6.22%
|
---|
1975
| 34,576
| +1.70%
|
---|
1982
| 34,846
| +0.11%
|
---|
1990
| 34,064
| ?0.28%
|
---|
1999
| 37,079
| +0.95%
|
---|
2007
| 40,943
| +1.25%
|
---|
2012
| 43,771
| +1.34%
|
---|
2017
| 45,528
| +0.79%
|
---|
|
|
Source: EHESS
[5]
and INSEE (1968-2017)
[6]
|
Climate
[
edit
]
Climate data for Salon-de-Provence (1981?2010 averages, extremes 1939?present)
|
Month
|
Jan
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Apr
|
May
|
Jun
|
Jul
|
Aug
|
Sep
|
Oct
|
Nov
|
Dec
|
Year
|
Record high °C (°F)
|
20.8
(69.4)
|
22.8
(73.0)
|
25.7
(78.3)
|
29.2
(84.6)
|
34.4
(93.9)
|
43.4
(110.1)
|
39.7
(103.5)
|
39.3
(102.7)
|
34.8
(94.6)
|
30.1
(86.2)
|
24.2
(75.6)
|
22.0
(71.6)
|
43.4
(110.1)
|
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)
|
11.0
(51.8)
|
12.4
(54.3)
|
15.7
(60.3)
|
18.4
(65.1)
|
22.8
(73.0)
|
26.9
(80.4)
|
30.2
(86.4)
|
29.7
(85.5)
|
25.3
(77.5)
|
20.6
(69.1)
|
14.6
(58.3)
|
11.4
(52.5)
|
20.0
(68.0)
|
Daily mean °C (°F)
|
6.0
(42.8)
|
7.0
(44.6)
|
9.9
(49.8)
|
12.6
(54.7)
|
16.7
(62.1)
|
20.6
(69.1)
|
23.6
(74.5)
|
23.2
(73.8)
|
19.4
(66.9)
|
15.4
(59.7)
|
10.0
(50.0)
|
6.8
(44.2)
|
14.3
(57.7)
|
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)
|
1.1
(34.0)
|
1.6
(34.9)
|
4.1
(39.4)
|
6.8
(44.2)
|
10.6
(51.1)
|
14.3
(57.7)
|
17.0
(62.6)
|
16.8
(62.2)
|
13.5
(56.3)
|
10.2
(50.4)
|
5.3
(41.5)
|
2.2
(36.0)
|
8.7
(47.7)
|
Record low °C (°F)
|
?14.3
(6.3)
|
?18.5
(?1.3)
|
?9.4
(15.1)
|
?3.0
(26.6)
|
?0.9
(30.4)
|
4.2
(39.6)
|
7.6
(45.7)
|
7.7
(45.9)
|
3.1
(37.6)
|
?3.6
(25.5)
|
?7.6
(18.3)
|
?14.4
(6.1)
|
?18.5
(?1.3)
|
Average
precipitation
mm (inches)
|
51.1
(2.01)
|
35.1
(1.38)
|
35.9
(1.41)
|
57.5
(2.26)
|
48.9
(1.93)
|
26.3
(1.04)
|
10.6
(0.42)
|
33.7
(1.33)
|
77.8
(3.06)
|
85.2
(3.35)
|
66.5
(2.62)
|
50.7
(2.00)
|
579.3
(22.81)
|
Average precipitation days
(≥ 1.0 mm)
|
5.2
|
4.8
|
4.5
|
6.3
|
5.2
|
3.2
|
1.5
|
3.0
|
4.8
|
6.5
|
6.2
|
5.5
|
56.6
|
Average snowy days
|
0.6
|
0.5
|
0.2
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.0
|
0.2
|
0.9
|
2.4
|
Average
relative humidity
(%)
|
75
|
73
|
68
|
67
|
67
|
65
|
61
|
64
|
72
|
76
|
77
|
77
|
70.2
|
Source 1:
Meteo France
[7]
[8]
[9]
|
Source 2: Infoclimat.fr (humidity, snowy days 1961?1990)
[10]
|
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
External links
[
edit
]
|
---|
International
| |
---|
National
| |
---|
Geographic
| |
---|
Other
| |
---|