Mirabel-aux-Baronnies
Encyclopedia
Mirabel-aux-Baronnies is a commune
in the Drôme
department in the Rhône-Alpes
region in southeastern France.
Perched on top of a hill, Mirabel is renowned for its mild climate and beautiful scenery. It was first mentioned in 1059 as Mirabello Castello.
Mirabel-aux-Baronnies is situated next to the river Gaude on a hill halfways between Nyons
and Vaison-la-Romaine
and had a castle with a tower so high that one could see Orange
in Vaucluse
. The castle incorporated the chapel of Saint Julien.
tribe, the Gaudenses. It is said that Mirabel has its name from the previously mentioned high tower of the former castle, the tower was named Turris Mirabellis. Later known as Castrum Mirabellum, it was part of the county of the Montauban-family. 9 October 1206, baron Dragonet de Montauban and his son Raymond exchanged with Eliarde, abesse of Saint-Cesaire of Arles, Mirabel and its surroundings for the signeurship of Vinsobres.
After annexation of the baronnies by the Dauphin, Mirabel grew in importance (it had even its own money) and in number of inhabitants. The castle was fortified and enlarged, the chapel of St-Julien was rebuilt. The domaine de Beaulieu, at the south of Mirabel became one of the principal residences of the Dauphin. In the 14th century Mirabel was heavily damaged by the religion-based wars.
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 of St-Julien 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.
Between 1790 en 1800, Mirabel was chief-lieu of the Canton. After July 1794 (murder of Robespierre) Mirabel was a major centre of royalist parties.
Mirabel-aux-Baronnies was one of the first villages having a public water system. In 1876, Italian specialists were hired. They lived for several years in Mirabel and even had an own school for their children. The water coming from the source Tune, more than 4 km (2.5 mi) outside the village, was captured and fed into a system of in-situ made concrete tubes of 20 cm diameter (see figure), alimenting 2 fountains and 4 reservoirs (F: lavoir) with fresh drinking water. The fountains, one of which originates already from the of the 13th century that was later adapted for use with the water system, are still in good condition. Those eldest fountain is situated on the old market-square.
Antiques-market 1st and 3rd Sunday from June till September. "Fete du Vin" 15 August.
Tourists Office, Postal Office, 2 Bakeries, 1 "bureau de tabac", 2 restaurants, 2 bars, 1 salon de thé (teahouse), 1 butcher, 1 antique bookseller, 1 brocante, 1 old olive mill (museum), 1 olive mill (Chameil).
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Drôme
Drôme
Drôme , a department in southeastern France, takes its name from the Drôme River.-History:The French National Constituent Assembly set up Drôme as one of the original 83 departments of France on March 4, 1790, during the French Revolution...
department in the Rhône-Alpes
Rhône-Alpes
Rhône-Alpes is one of the 27 regions of France, located on the eastern border of the country, towards the south. The region was named after the Rhône River and the Alps mountain range. Its capital, Lyon, is the second-largest metropolitan area in France after Paris...
region in southeastern France.
Perched on top of a hill, Mirabel is renowned for its mild climate and beautiful scenery. It was first mentioned in 1059 as Mirabello Castello.
Mirabel-aux-Baronnies is situated next to the river Gaude on a hill halfways between Nyons
Nyons
Nyons is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France.-History:Nyons was settled in the 6th century BC as Nyrax by a Gallic tribe, probably the Segusiavi or the Sequani...
and Vaison-la-Romaine
Vaison-la-Romaine
Vaison-la-Romaine is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France....
and had a castle with a tower so high that one could see Orange
Orange, Vaucluse
Orange is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.It has a primarily agricultural economy...
in Vaucluse
Vaucluse
The Vaucluse is a department in the southeast of France, named after the famous spring, the Fontaine-de-Vaucluse.- History :Vaucluse was created on 12 August 1793 out of parts of the departments of Bouches-du-Rhône, Drôme, and Basses-Alpes...
. The castle incorporated the chapel of Saint Julien.
History
Mirabel-aux-Baronnies is the former capital of a VocontiiVocontii
The Vocontii were a Gallic people who lived on the east bank of the Rhône.-Location:Their main towns were Lucus Augusti and Vasio , but they occupied an extensive territory stretching from Vercors in the north, the buttresses of Mont Ventoux in the south-west, Manosque in the south-east and...
tribe, the Gaudenses. It is said that Mirabel has its name from the previously mentioned high tower of the former castle, the tower was named Turris Mirabellis. Later known as Castrum Mirabellum, it was part of the county of the Montauban-family. 9 October 1206, baron Dragonet de Montauban and his son Raymond exchanged with Eliarde, abesse of Saint-Cesaire of Arles, Mirabel and its surroundings for the signeurship of Vinsobres.
After annexation of the baronnies by the Dauphin, Mirabel grew in importance (it had even its own money) and in number of inhabitants. The castle was fortified and enlarged, the chapel of St-Julien was rebuilt. The domaine de Beaulieu, at the south of Mirabel became one of the principal residences of the Dauphin. In the 14th century Mirabel was heavily damaged by the religion-based wars.
Until 1348 Mirabel-aux-Baronnies did have a Jewish quarter called Les Josiols
Les Josiols
Les Josiols is a former Jewish quarter situated north of Mirabel-aux-Baronnies, a French commune in the southern Drôme department.Situated on a hillside, Mirabel has a mild climate. Mirabel, which was first mentioned in 1059, had a flourishing Jewish quarter until 1348. The Jews that inhabited Les...
, positioned outside the walls on the north next to the creek Françonne
Françonne
La Françonne is a creek situated north of Mirabel-aux-Baronnies in France, department Drôme, and to the east of the former Jewish quarter called les Josiols. This quarter existed until 1348, when the inhabitants of Les Josiols were assassinated due to rumours that they had caused the outbreak of...
. 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 of St-Julien 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.
Between 1790 en 1800, Mirabel was chief-lieu of the Canton. After July 1794 (murder of Robespierre) Mirabel was a major centre of royalist parties.
Mirabel-aux-Baronnies was one of the first villages having a public water system. In 1876, Italian specialists were hired. They lived for several years in Mirabel and even had an own school for their children. The water coming from the source Tune, more than 4 km (2.5 mi) outside the village, was captured and fed into a system of in-situ made concrete tubes of 20 cm diameter (see figure), alimenting 2 fountains and 4 reservoirs (F: lavoir) with fresh drinking water. The fountains, one of which originates already from the of the 13th century that was later adapted for use with the water system, are still in good condition. Those eldest fountain is situated on the old market-square.
Population
Daily life
Friday is (food)market day in Mirabel. Between 30 November until the end of February on Saturday olive-market starting at 8 o Clock in the morning.Antiques-market 1st and 3rd Sunday from June till September. "Fete du Vin" 15 August.
Tourists Office, Postal Office, 2 Bakeries, 1 "bureau de tabac", 2 restaurants, 2 bars, 1 salon de thé (teahouse), 1 butcher, 1 antique bookseller, 1 brocante, 1 old olive mill (museum), 1 olive mill (Chameil).
Sights
- The church St Julien, 13th century, rebuilt 1645- 1651.
- Some remains of the old Castle, 13th century.
- The old fortifications (chemin des Barrys), 12th century.
- The old fountain on the Place des Armes, 13th century.
- The chapel N.D. de Beaulieu (2 kilometres south-west of Mirabel), the remains of the old residence of the Dauphins.
- The chapel Calvaire.
- The chapel St. Pierre (north-east of Mirabel, isolated).
- Prehistorical caves called "des Hugenots" et "des Sarasins".
- Remains of the tower of Mialon.
- The forest of the King.