Mirabel-aux-Baronnies
Encyclopedia : M : MI : MIR : Mirabel-aux-Baronnies
| Mirabel-aux-Baronnies | |
|---|---|
| Country | |
| Région | Rhône-Alpes |
| Départment | Drôme |
| Arrondissement | Nyons |
| Canton | Nyons |
| INSEE | 26182 |
| Postal Code | 26110 |
| Mayor Current Term | Christian Cornillac 2001-2008 |
| Intercommunality | |
| Longitude | 05° 05' 99" E |
| Latitude | 44° 18' 41" N |
| Altitudes | average : 263 m minimum : 206 m maximum : 791 m |
| Area | 22.56 km² |
| Population without double-counting | 1,335 inhab. (1999) |
| Population Density | 59 inhab./km² |
It was first mentioned in 1059 as Mirabello Castello.
Mirabel-aux-Baronnies is situated next to the river Gaude on a hill halfways Nyons and Vaison-la-Romaine and had formerly a castle with a tower so high that one could see Orange in Vaucluse. The castle incorporated the chapel of St-Julien that was of architectural importance.
History
Until 1348 Mirabel-aux-Baronnies did have a Jewish quarter called Les Josiols, positioned outside the walls on the north next to the creek Françonne. Due to the suspicion they caused the pest, the Jews were either expelled or assassinated in 1348. The houses in the quarter were destroyed.
After the arrival of protestantism in the region, Mirabel-aux-Baronnies changed a lot. First, the chapel was destroyed and in 1633 the castle and a part of the walls. Those walls were restored in 1652 because again the pest was feared, and equipped with 4 new gates. The present church is reconstructed on the remains of the old chapel during 1645-1651.
Mirabel-aux-Baronnies was one of the first villages having a public water system. In 1876, the water coming from the source Tune, more than 4 km outside the village, was captured and fed into a system of in-situ made concrete tubes of 20 cm diameter, alimenting 2 fountains and 4 reservoirs with fresh drinking water. The fountains, one of which originates already from the of the 13th century that was later adapted to the water system, are still in good condition. The eldest fountain is situated on the old market-square.
Demographics
Nowadays, the population (1600 inhabitants, 2005) lives from agriculture (olives, vineyards) and tourism.
Images
For more information
1. P. Ollivier-Elliott: Les Baronnies, ISBN 2 7449 0266 72. Claude Leone-Chanot: Mirabel aux Baronnies, ISBN 2 903044 85 6
3. [www.mirabelauxbaronnies.fr]
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