Joucas

Joucas (Jocaç 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.

Joucas
Commune
A general view of the village of Joucas
Coat of arms
Location of Joucas
Joucas Joucas
Coordinates: 43°55′36″N 5°15′10″E
Country	France
Region	Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Department	Vaucluse
Arrondissement	Apt
Canton	Apt
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Lucien Aubert
Area 1	8.29 km2 (3.20 sq mi)
Population  (2021)	352
• Density	42/km2 (110/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.

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 one 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.

Population

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%	Year Pop. ±% 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% 2007 315 −0.6% 2012 325 +3.2% 2017 338 +4.0%
From the year 1962 on: population without double counting Source: 1793-1999 EHESS, 1968-2017 INSEE

Tourism

Like all municipalities in the Luberon, tourism plays a role, directly or indirectly, in the local economy. There are several main types of tourism in the Luberon. Historical and cultural tourism relies on the rich heritage of the hilltop villages. Vacation tourism 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 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