Joucas

Joucas
Location of Joucas
Country	France
Region	Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Department	Vaucluse
Arrondissement	Apt
Canton	Gordes
Government
• Mayor (2001–2008)	Lucien Aubert
Area 1	8.29 km2 (3.20 sq mi)
Population  (2006)	324
• Density	39/km2 (100/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	84057 /84220
Elevation	178–447 m (584–1,467 ft) (avg. 263 m or 863 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Joucas (Jocàs in Occitan) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. The town is located on the perimeter of the Parc naturel régional du Luberon.

Geography

Located between two of the "most beautiful villages in France," Gordes and Roussillon, Joucas is a small hilltop village of Monts de Vaucluse. From the village you can see the surrounding plain and ochre hills of Roussillon. Like other hilltop villages in the region, the village location was selected in part due to the good views, which allowed inhabitants to see enemies approaching from far away.

Démography

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1793	303	—
1800	299	−1.3%
1806	310	+3.7%
1821	308	−0.6%
1831	393	+27.6%
1836	390	−0.8%
1841	364	−6.7%
1846	391	+7.4%
1851	455	+16.4%
1856	437	−4.0%
1861	435	−0.5%
1866	398	−8.5%
1872	380	−4.5%
1876	397	+4.5%
1881	311	−21.7%
1886	307	−1.3%
1891	265	−13.7%
1896	232	−12.5%
1901	219	−5.6%
1906	206	−5.9%
1911	212	+2.9%
1921	181	−14.6%
1926	169	−6.6%
1931	175	+3.6%
1936	180	+2.9%
1946	195	+8.3%
1954	173	−11.3%
1962	163	−5.8%
1968	201	+23.3%
1975	204	+1.5%
1982	210	+2.9%
1990	258	+22.9%
1999	317	+22.9%
2006	315	−0.6%
From the year 1962 on: population without double counting Source: INSEE

Evolution of population graph between 1794 to 2006

Tourism

Like all municipalities in the Luberon, tourism plays a role, directly or indirectly, in the local economy. There are three main types of tourism in the Luberon. First, historical and cultural tourism that relies on the rich heritage of the hilltop villages. Second, vacation tourism which has resulted in the significant development of cottages, hotels and rentals, a large concentration of pools, and activities such as the Provençal markets. Finally, green tourism that benefits from the many hiking trails and protected lands in the Luberon and surroundings. Tourism (hotels, guest houses and restaurants, including a starred Michelin) is an important part of the Joucas economy.

Places to see

• 
  Joucas church
• 
  inside the church
• 
  old wash house

See also

• Communes of the Vaucluse department
• Luberon

References

• INSEE