The Jewish quarter – L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue

The Jewish Heritage of L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue

The first written reference to the presence of a Jewish community in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue dates from 1268.

There is every indication that the Jewry, located inside the walls in the Villefranche quarter, existed well before that date at the same location.

In 1274, the Comtat Venaissin was placed under the authority of the Pope. This guardianship would allow Jews to live in relative freedom on these pontifical lands while they were being persecuted and expelled in other places (England in the late 13th century, France in the early 14th century, and Spain, Portugal and Provence in the late 15th century).

In the mid-15th century, the pontifical authorities toughened the regulations governing Jewish communities in the Comtat Venaissain. In order to keep them separate from Christians, the Jews were forced to live in a single street ('carreria' in the Provençal language) that was closed at night. The term 'carrière', derived from the Provençal word, would subsequently be used to refer to the Jewish quarter and the community living there.

In 1624, new measures were introduced regarding the Jews of the Comtat Venaissain. At this time, they were assigned residence in four cities: Avignon, Carpentras, Cavaillon and L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue.

Thus would be the life of the 'Pope's Jews' in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue for almost two centuries, until their emancipation when the Comtat Venaissin became part of France in 1791.

The 'carrière' of L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue

During the 18th century, the Jewish quarter ('carrière', Jewry) covered an area of approximately one hectare. In the evening, the two doors to the street would be closed. One was located at the eastern end (the present-day Rue Alfred de Musset) and the other at the western end (Rue Louis Lopez). The life of the community revolved around a central square where economic activities, mainly focused on the textile industry, were concentrated. The houses could have as many as four or five floors in order to optimise precious available space.

At least two buildings that are particularly representative of the civil architecture of the late-18th-century Jewries have survived to the present day. They are characterised by their refined style that is particularly noticeable in the quality of the ironwork on the balconies and the decorative plasterwork.

The second half of the 18th century was marked by a notable improvement in living conditions and resources used for the reconstruction of residential and cultural buildings (synagogue, ritual bath, etc.).

Source: Insula, Directorate for Heritage, L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue