Richerenches

Richerenches (Richarencha in Occitan) is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.

Richerenches
Commune
Farm of the Knights Templar
Coat of arms
Location of Richerenches
Richerenches
Richerenches
Coordinates: 44°21′37″N 4°54′47″E
CountryFrance
RegionProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
DepartmentVaucluse
ArrondissementCarpentras
CantonValréas
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Pierre-André Valayer[1]
Area
1
10.96 km2 (4.23 sq mi)
Population
 (2017-01-01)[2]
619
 • Density56/km2 (150/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
84097 /84600
Elevation115–174 m (377–571 ft)
(avg. 150 m or 490 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Truffles

The village is famous for its truffle market as well as for its messe aux truffes in the church located in the village center. Donations are this time not given in money but in 'truffes'. After the service the traditionally dressed brotherhoods of the rabassiers (the people who search for truffles in the ground with trained dogs or pigs) take the donated truffles to a small square in front of the Hôtel de Ville, where they are auctioned. The revenues are for the maintenance of the church and parochial expenses. The village is crowded at this event, that takes place every third Sunday of January.

Knights Templar

In 1136, a local lord, Hugh of Bourbouton, gave the Knights Templar land at Richerenches. Two years later he gave even more, and the next day he took his vows as a Templar. He eventually became the Commander of the Templar commandery of Richerenches, which rose to be one of the most important Templar commanderies in Provence.[3]

The village is mentioned in Season 4 Episode 1 of the TV series Warehouse 13 as being the location for a fictitious cult derived from the Knights Templar called the Brotherhood of the Black Diamond.

See also

References
  1. "Répertoire national des élus: les maires". data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises (in French). 2 December 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  2. "Populations légales 2017". INSEE. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  3. Ripert-Monclar, The Marquis of (1978). Cartulaire de la Commanderie de Richerenches de l'Ordre du Temple (1136-1214). Marseille: Laffitte Reprints. pp. 3–5.


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