Alpilles
Chaîne des Alpilles | |
---|---|
les Alpilles | |
Highest point | |
Peak | Tour des Opies, Eyguières |
Elevation | 498 m (1,634 ft) |
Dimensions | |
Length | 25 km (16 mi) |
Width | 8 km (5.0 mi) |
Area | 171 km2 (66 sq mi) |
Geography | |
Country | France |
Region | Bouches-du-Rhône |
The Chaîne des Alpilles (French pronunciation: [ʃɛn dez‿alpij]) is a small range of low mountains in Provence, southern France, located about 20 km (12 mi) south of Avignon.
Geography
The range is an extension of the much larger Luberon range. Although it is not high - some 498 m (1,634 ft) at its highest point - the Alpilles range stands out impressively, as it rises abruptly from the Rhône valley and from the very flat alluvial plain of Crau. The range is about 25 km long by about 8 to 10 km wide, running in an east-west direction between the Rhône and Durance rivers. The landscape of the Alpilles is one of arid limestone peaks separated by dry valleys.
Communes
The Chaîne des Alpilles is part of the territory of 15 communes:[1] Aureille, Les Baux-de-Provence, Eygalières, Eyguières, Fontvieille, Mas-Blanc-des-Alpilles, Maussane-les-Alpilles, Mouriès, Paradou, Orgon, Saint-Étienne-du-Grès, Saint-Martin-de-Crau, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Sénas, Tarascon.
Flora and fauna
The lower slopes are planted with
The highest parts of the range are a nature reserve inhabited by a number of rare species, including
History
Some
Conservation
The
The Alpilles in arts
The Alpilles were immortalized in art by Vincent van Gogh, who painted many images of the Alpilles' landscapes during his time in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence on the north side of the mountains. One of the paintings was given by van Gogh to his friend Eugène Boch.[4]
See also
- Barbegal aqueduct and mill
- Glanum
- Van Gogh paintings:
- Wheat Fields (Van Gogh series)
- Saint-Paul Asylum, Saint-Rémy (Van Gogh series)
- Enclosed Field with Peasant
- The Starry Night
References
- ^ Zone ZNIEFF (in French)
- ^ Parc Naturel Régional des Alpilles : un territoire qui conserve un équilibre économique et écologique[permanent dead link] (in French)
- ^ Les Alpilles: Natura 2000 site (in French)
- ^ http://www.eugeneboch.com More about the Alpilles painting by Vincent van Gogh