Bouches-du-Rhône is a department of France located in the southern region of
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. It is one of the 83 departments that were created during the French Revolution in 1790. The department was formed by merging a part of the province of Provence and the principalities of Orange, Martigues, and Lambesc. It is numbered 13 and is named after the mouth of the Rhône River, which empties into the Mediterranean Sea in the south of the department. Marseille, an important harbour and the second-largest city in France has been a significant part of the department's history even before Julius Caesar's conquest of Gaul. The Roman presence is evident through the numerous monuments across the department, including the Roman Theatre of Orange, the Glanum Archaeological Site, and the Arles Amphitheatre. The department lost some territory in 1793 when the
Vaucluse department was created.
Bouches-du-Rhône is bordered by Gard to the west, Vaucluse to the north, Var to the east, and the Mediterranean Sea to the south. It covers an area of 5,087 square kilometres and has a population of approximately two million people. The department is known for its diverse landscapes, including the Camargue wetlands, the Calanques cliffs, and the
Alpilles mountains.
The department has been well-represented in French art, with many artists drawn to its scenic beauty. Paul Cézanne, a native of Aix-en-Provence, painted many representations of the Mont Sainte-Victoire, while Vincent van Gogh spent much of his life in Arles, painting many scenes in the area. In recent years, the department has also gained recognition for its work-life balance, with a recent study by Holland and Barrett revealing that Marseille ranked second in the world for work-life balance, with an average of 31.48 working hours per week.
If you are looking for a property in Bouches-du-Rhône, please get in touch to discuss
your search criteria.