Salon-de-Provence

Coordinates: 43°38′26″N 5°05′50″E / 43.6406°N 5.0972°E / 43.6406; 5.0972
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Salon-de-Provence
Selon de Provença (Occitan)
A view of Salon-de-Provence, with the church and clock tower
A view of Salon-de-Provence, with the church and clock tower
Coat of arms of Salon-de-Provence
Location of Salon-de-Provence
Map
Salon-de-Provence is located in France
Salon-de-Provence
Salon-de-Provence
Salon-de-Provence is located in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Salon-de-Provence
Salon-de-Provence
Coordinates: 43°38′26″N 5°05′50″E / 43.6406°N 5.0972°E / 43.6406; 5.0972
CountryFrance
RegionProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
DepartmentBouches-du-Rhône
ArrondissementAix-en-Provence
CantonSalon-de-Provence-1 and 2
IntercommunalityAix-Marseille-Provence Metropolis
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Nicolas Isnard[1] (LR)
Area
1
70.3 km2 (27.1 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
44,731
 • Density640/km2 (1,600/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Salonais, salonaise (French)
Selonenc, selonenca (Occitan)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
13103 /13300
Elevation53–325 m (174–1,066 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Salon-de-Provence (French pronunciation: [salɔ̃ d(ə) pʁɔvɑ̃s], locally [saˈlɔ̃ᵑ pχoˈvãⁿsə]; Provençal Occitan: Selon de Provença/Seloun de Provènço, [seˈlu de pʀuˈvɛnsɔ]), commonly known as Salon, is a commune located about 52 km (32 mi) northwest of Marseille in the Bouches-du-Rhône department (Metropolis of Aix-Marseille Provence), region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Southern France. It is the home of an important French Air and Space Force (Armée 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 Port 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[edit]

Nostradamus house

Château de l'Emperi[edit]

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.

Collégiale 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 Provençal market.

Culture[edit]

Each summer, the Château de l'Empéri hosts a festival of chamber music.

Some years the Château 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]

Twin towns – sister cities[edit]

Salon-de-Provence is twinned with:[4]

Gallery[edit]

Population[edit]

Historical population
YearPop.±% 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%
YearPop.±% 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]

  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 6 June 2023.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021". The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ "Simon - JACQUEMUS | Official website". JACQUEMUS | Official website. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  4. ^ "Villes jumelles". visitsalondeprovence.com (in French). Salon-de-Provence. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  5. ^ Des villages de Cassini aux communes d'aujourd'hui: Commune data sheet Salon-de-Provence, EHESS (in French).
  6. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
  7. ^ "Données climatiques de la station de Salon-de-Provence" (in French). Meteo France. Archived from the original on 17 July 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  8. ^ "Climat Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur" (in French). Meteo France. Archived from the original on 15 December 2018. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  9. ^ "Salon de Provence (13)" (PDF). Fiche Climatologique: Statistiques 1981–2010 et records (in French). Meteo France. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 April 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  10. ^ "Normes et records 1961-1990: Salon de Provence (13) - altitude 59m" (in French). Infoclimat. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2016.

External links[edit]