“A narrow passage to another time” might be the perfect description of Venelle Sud. This French commune sits in the northern suburbs of Aix-en-Provence. It is in the department of Bouches-du-Rhone. This is in the Provence-Alpes-Cote d’Azur region.
Venelles is a small town. Its residents are called Venellois. Venelles is six kilometers north of Aix-en-Provence. It is also 39 kilometers from Marseille and Manosque. Venelles sits between the Alps’ first foothills and the Aix region. You can spot the village from afar. Its buildings and old houses nestle against the hillside. The commune borders the Durance valley. Numerous wooded hills surround the village. Some are part of the Sainte-Victoire site.
The Touloubre river begins south of the village. It flows toward Puyricard. Then it empties into the Berre pond 59 km away. The Grand Vallat stream also starts in the communal territory. It flows toward Meyrargues. The commune is hilly. The Trevaresse chain’s eastern end crosses part of it. The Sainte-Victoire massif’s foothills appear on the commune’s far east.
From the village esplanade, one can see the Luberon. You can also see the Sainte-Victoire mountain. Even the Sainte-Baume massif is visible. The Marseille massifs can also be seen.
Venelles is higher than most nearby communes. It’s usually between 300 and 360 meters high. This makes it the department’s second-highest commune. Only Mimet is higher.
Venelles has a French Mediterranean climate. Summers are dry with lots of sunshine. Winters are mild. The village is known for strong winds.
Venelles is categorized as a small town. It’s part of the Marseille-Aix-en-Provence urban area. It is a suburb. Venelles is also in the Marseille – Aix-en-Provence attraction area.
Forests and semi-natural areas cover much of Venelles. Arable land is also significant. Urban areas make up a portion. There are also heterogeneous agricultural zones.
Venelles has its own exit on the A51 highway. It’s exit 13, Venelles. The D 96 road also crosses it.
Several bus lines serve the commune. These are part of the Pays d’Aix community.
The name “Venelles” does not come from the French word “venelle”. That word is not common in Occitan or Provencal. The name may come from a pre-Celtic word for a height. Or it could be from the Gaulish name Venna.
The Venelles area was likely inhabited in the Paleolithic and Neolithic eras. Stone tools have been found. The village may have started around 401 BC. A Celto-Ligurian tribe of the Salyens founded it. Around 123 BC, Roman armies occupied the village. This happened when they invaded the Entremont oppidum nearby.
In the 11th century, two churches existed. One was “Velenna-Nova” at the Saint Hippolyte domain. The other was “Velenna-Vetula.” Venelles’ location helped it grow. It was on the road between Aix-en-Provence and the Luberon. This boosted wood transport. Vineyards became more common in the 15th century. By the 16th century, Venellois planted vines. They also planted olive and almond trees on the village slopes. Venelles had seven houses in 1540. By 1820, there were 211 houses and 833 villagers. The village grew down from the hill.
In 1865, Venelles boomed. Mayor Felix Chabaud created a gendarmerie brigade. He also built water supply systems. A train station was built on the “Marseille-Grenoble” line. A strong earthquake hit the village on June 11, 1909. The church and several houses were destroyed. The new church was built in Venelles-le-Bas. Later, all important buildings were built there.
Venelles’ church was enlarged. It reopened on December 14, 2008. Claude Feidt, archbishop of Aix-en-Provence-et-Arles, attended.
Venelles is twinned with Valfabbrica, Italy, since 2009.
Venelles makes AOC coteaux-d’aix-en-provence wines. Red and rose wines use Grenache, Carignan, and Cabernet-Sauvignon. Cinsault, Syrah, Counoise, and Mourvedre are also used. White wines blend Grenache, Vermentino, Clairette, and Bourboulenc. Ugni blanc is also used. A wine festival happens in May.
Tourism is important to Venelles’ economy. This includes historical, cultural, and green tourism.
Venelles has many landmarks. These include Saint-Hippolyte church and the old village of Venelles-le-Haut. There is also the Chabaud vault. The Violaine castle is another. So is the old Verdon canal.