Baronnies

The Baronnies (French pronunciation: [baʁɔni]) is a historic name for the area east and north of Mont Ventoux in Southern France.

Smaller areas in the east and south belong to the departments of Vaucluse, Hautes-Alpes and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence (part of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region).

After the Roman Empire collapsed in the 3rd century, hundreds of years of invasions by Franks, Lombards, Saracens and marauding bands followed.

During the Barons of Mévouillon consolidated their power over a large part of les Baronnies, they ruled for roughly 300 years from capital in Buis-les-Baronnies.

Within a short period of time both had to sell their possessions to the Count of Vienne, nicknamed le Dauphin (the dolphin was his coat of arms), who ceded his territory to the King of France in 1349 to pay his debts.

There are many rustic ancient villages, most notable are Brantes, Faucon, Mirabel-aux-Baronnies, Mollans-sur-Ouvèze, Montbrun-les-Bains, La Motte-Chalancon, Orpierre, Puymeras, Rémuzat, Rousset-les-Vignes, Sainte-Jalle, Séderon and Venterol.