VALRéAS

'Valréas' is a town and commune of the Vaucluse ''département'', in France.

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Geography

Geography

The area around the town of Valréas is known as "L'Enclave Des Papes" within the department of Vaucluse. It is surrounded by the department of the Drôme. The Enclave began in 1317 when Pope Jean XIII bought Valreas for the papacy of Avignon. The story goes that following a visit to Valreas, feeling unwell he was offered some wine from the area. Liking it he decided to purchase the town to ensure a wine supply. Over the next 150 years or so his successors added to the Enclave by the addition of the small towns of Visan, Richerenches and Grillon. The boundaries were defined by tall stone markers carrying the coat of Arms of the Popes. The present day boundaries are still delimited by some of theses stones, one of which is outside the entrance to the Valreas Tourist office. When the departments of France were created post revolution the people of the Enclave requested to remain as part of the department of Vaucluse (see Comtat Venaissin). Hence the "Enclave des Papes.