Bouches-du-Rhone

Bouches-du-Rhône
Details
Information
Number	13
Region	Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Prefecture	Marseille
Subprefectures	Aix-en-Provence Arles Istres
Population  - Total (1999)  - Density	Ranked 3rd 1,835,719 361 /km²
Area	5,087 km²
Arrondissements	4
Cantons	58
Communes	119
President of the general council	Jean-Noël Guérini
Location

Bouches-du-Rhône is a French département. Located in the south of France, it was formerly part of the province of Provence.

History

Marseille has been a harbor since classical times.

Geography

The Bouches-du-Rhône département is surrounded by the Gard (west), Vaucluse (north), and Var (east) départements, and by the Mediterranean Sea (south).

Other significant cities include: Fos sur Mer, La Ciotat, Martigues

Rivers include:

• the Rhône, which marks the border with the Gard département.

Mountains include:

• the Alpilles mountain range
• the Montagnette hill range
• Sainte-Victoire mountain
• Sainte-Baume massif

Economy

Demographics

Culture

Touristic highlights include:

• Cities of Marseille and Aix en Provence
• Roman and Romanesque monuments of Arles, UNESCO World Heritage Site
• The Camargue and the city of Saintes Maries de la Mer
• Alphonse Daudet's windmill in Fontvieille
• Les Baux de Provence, medieval village
• Saint Rémy de Provence and the ruins of the Roman city of Glanum
• Tarascon, medieval castle and church

Historically, Provençal, a form of the Occitan language, was spoken in the area.

Miscellaneous topics