Rochefort-du-Gard

Rochefort-du-Gard
Town hall
Coat of arms
Rochefort-du-Gard
Location within Occitanie region  Rochefort-du-Gard
Coordinates: 43°58′30″N 4°41′27″E / 43.975°N 4.6908°ECoordinates: 43°58′30″N 4°41′27″E / 43.975°N 4.6908°E
Country	France
Region	Occitanie
Department	Gard
Arrondissement	Nîmes
Canton	Villeneuve-lès-Avignon
Intercommunality	Grand Avignon
Government
• Mayor (2008–)	Patrick Vacaris
Area^1	34.03 km^2 (13.14 sq mi)
Population (2008)^2	6,930
• Density	200/km^2 (530/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
INSEE/Postal code	30217 / 30650
Elevation	48–267 m (157–876 ft) (avg. 56 m or 184 ft)
^1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. ^2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Rochefort-du-Gard is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.

Population

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±%
1962	783	—
1968	910	+16.2%
1975	1,128	+24.0%
1982	2,018	+78.9%
1990	4,107	+103.5%
1999	5,821	+41.7%
2008	6,930	+19.1%

Culture

Rochefort-du-Gard is integrated into Occitanie but naturally rooted in Provence, and it depends on the economic area of Avignon.

With its 42 associations, it enjoys a great number of cultural and sporting events. Nearly 3000 people come to see the "Grand Aïoli," held on the Monday after the village festival.

Wine

Rochefort-du-Gard is well-renowned for its AOC Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages Signargues, one of the best appellation of the southern part of the Rhône Valley. The different soils, micro-climates and vines provide an ideal habitat for this prestigious appellation. Everything was set in motion to achieve optimum results: full-bodied wines combining force and elegance yet retaining the uniqueness of terroir through a complex pallet of aromas.

Sights

Rochefort du Gard is also well known for its very conserved historic monuments:

• Le Castelas, a fully renovated Romanesque chapel from the tenth century, which towers above the village
• The Sanctuary of Notre Dame, built under Charlemagne's rule in 798. The chapel, the nave, the choir, the baroque altar, the museum of thanksgiving plaques, the hall of echoes, and the Grand Calvary are all worth the visit
• The church of Saint Bardulphe, a neo-Gothic parish church which was renovated in 1981 and 1988
• The town hall, a former a chapel built from 1729 to 1934
• The wash-house with its Doric columns; it was completed in 1807 and entirely renovated in 1999

See also

• Communes of the Gard department

References

• INSEE

External links

• Town website