Bouc-Bel-Air (French pronunciation: [buk bɛl‿ɛʁ]; Occitan: Boc) is a commune in the Bouches-du-Rhône department, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in Southern France. It is situated between Aix-en-Provence to the north, Gardanne to the east, Marseille to the south and Vitrolles to the west. The old village is located at the summit of a small hill (a bouc in the regional language Provençal). In 2018, the commune had a population of 14,784.

Bouc-Bel-Air
Boc (Occitan)
The church of Saint-André
The church of Saint-André
Coat of arms of Bouc-Bel-Air
Location of Bouc-Bel-Air
Map
Bouc-Bel-Air is located in France
Bouc-Bel-Air
Bouc-Bel-Air
Bouc-Bel-Air is located in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Bouc-Bel-Air
Bouc-Bel-Air
Coordinates: 43°27′19″N 5°24′54″E / 43.4553°N 5.415°E / 43.4553; 5.415
CountryFrance
RegionProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
DepartmentBouches-du-Rhône
ArrondissementAix-en-Provence
CantonVitrolles
IntercommunalityAix-Marseille-Provence
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Richard Mallié[1] (LR)
Area
1
21.75 km2 (8.40 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
15,248
 • Density700/km2 (1,800/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
13015 /13320
Elevation153–330 m (502–1,083 ft)
(avg. 259 m or 850 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Demographics edit

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1793 1,506—    
1800 1,413−0.91%
1806 1,268−1.79%
1821 1,344+0.39%
1831 1,407+0.46%
1836 1,327−1.16%
1841 1,320−0.11%
1846 1,299−0.32%
1851 1,321+0.34%
1856 1,321+0.00%
1861 1,275−0.71%
1866 1,168−1.74%
1872 1,159−0.13%
1876 1,062−2.16%
1881 938−2.45%
1886 933−0.11%
1891 908−0.54%
1896 895−0.29%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1901 798−2.27%
1906 825+0.67%
1911 813−0.29%
1921 794−0.24%
1926 743−1.32%
1931 842+2.53%
1936 867+0.59%
1946 1,159+2.95%
1954 1,606+4.16%
1962 2,158+3.76%
1968 3,210+6.84%
1975 4,533+5.05%
1982 8,714+9.79%
1990 11,512+3.54%
1999 12,297+0.74%
2007 13,604+1.27%
2012 13,844+0.35%
2017 14,654+1.14%
Source: EHESS[3] and INSEE (1968-2017)[4]

Sights edit

Bouc-Bel-Air is typically in Provençal style, founded around a rock which formed the foundation of an old castle of the 7th century. It has a particularly nice view of several mountains, including the Sainte-Victoire.

History edit

Inhabited since very ancient times, its sites witness of Roman-Gallic settlings. Some of these sites date to the 7th century BC. Invasions of the Barbarians took place in the 7th century AD, the probable foundation date of the village. The mother of Adolphe Thiers, second President of France (31 August 1871 – 24 May 1873), was from Bouc-Bel-Air.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 6 June 2023.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021". The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ Des villages de Cassini aux communes d'aujourd'hui: Commune data sheet Bouc-Bel-Air, EHESS (in French).
  4. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE

External links edit