Salon-de-Provence

Salon-de-Provence (French pronunciation: ​[salɔ̃ d(ə) pʁɔvɑ̃s], locally [salɔ̃ᵑ də pʁɔvãsə]; Provençal: Selon de Provença, [seˈlu de pʀuˈvɛnsɔ]), commonly known as Salon (Selon), is a commune located about 52 km (27.3 mi) from Marseille in the Bouches-du-Rhône department in southern France. It is the home of an important French Air and Space Force (Armée de l'air et de l'espace) air base.

Salon-de-Provence

Selon de Provença  (Occitan)
Commune
A view of Salon-de-Provence, with the church and clock tower
Coat of arms
Location of Salon-de-Provence
Salon-de-Provence
Salon-de-Provence
Coordinates:
CountryFrance
RegionProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
DepartmentBouches-du-Rhône
ArrondissementAix-en-Provence
CantonSalon-de-Provence-1 and 2
IntercommunalityAix-Marseille-Provence
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Nicolas Isnard[1] (LR)
Area
1
70.3 km2 (27.1 sq mi)
Population
 (2017-01-01)[2]
45,528
 • Density650/km2 (1,700/sq mi)
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.

History

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
Nostradamus house

Château de l'Emperi
Main article: Château de l'Empéri

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

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

Built during the 13th century, this chapel boasts a remarkable Romanesque tympanum featuring the paschal lamb.

Collégiale Saint Laurent

The current edifice was erected during 15th century by Cardinal Louis Aleman, who was then bishop of Arles.

Salon-de-Provence Air Base

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

Every Wednesday the Place Morgan is host to a Provençal market.

Culture

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

Twin towns – sister cities

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

  • Château de l'Empéri courtyard
  • Fontaine Moussue by night
  • St Michel, inside
  • Tympanum, Eglise St-Michel
  • Collégiale Saint Laurent, after 2008/2009 restorations
  • Jardin de la République
  • Sausages, market at Place Morgan
  • Mushrooms, market at Place Morgan
  • Paella, market at Place Morgan

Population
Historical population
YearPop.±%
17936,787—    
18005,100−24.9%
18065,167+1.3%
18215,864+13.5%
18315,987+2.1%
18365,793−3.2%
18415,617−3.0%
18466,355+13.1%
18516,564+3.3%
18567,057+7.5%
18616,533−7.4%
18666,714+2.8%
18727,522+12.0%
18767,021−6.7%
18817,503+6.9%
18868,598+14.6%
18919,152+6.4%
YearPop.±%
189610,936+19.5%
190112,872+17.7%
190614,050+9.2%
191114,019−0.2%
192113,155−6.2%
192612,900−1.9%
193113,193+2.3%
193613,482+2.2%
194615,826+17.4%
195417,597+11.2%
196221,393+21.6%
196830,722+43.6%
197534,576+12.5%
198234,846+0.8%
199034,064−2.2%
199937,079+8.9%
200841,411+11.7%

Climate
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)
Average high °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)
Average low °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[5][6][7]
Source 2: Infoclimat.fr (humidity, snowy days 1961–1990)[8]

See also

References
  1. "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 2 December 2020. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  2. "Populations légales 2017". INSEE. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  3. "Simon - JACQUEMUS | Official website". JACQUEMUS | Official website. Retrieved 2018-07-26.
  4. "Villes jumelles". visitsalondeprovence.com (in French). Salon-de-Provence. Retrieved 2019-11-18.
  5. "Données climatiques de la station de Salon-de-Provence" (in French). Meteo France. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  6. "Climat Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur" (in French). Meteo France. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  7. "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.
  8. "Normes et records 1961-1990: Salon de Provence (13) - altitude 59m" (in French). Infoclimat. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
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