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Rustrel

Department of Vaucluse
Population: 645 inhabitants ( 2004 )

Protected in the North by the Mountains of Vaucluse which offer it the woody hillsides of the "Circle" on the West and the "sharp" in the East, Rustrel contemplates Provençal Colorado, in the feet, southward.
Since ancient times the people spread the tracks of their stay and their work on the 2800 hectares of the municipal territory.
Territory of Rustrel is situated in 10 kms in the northeast of Apt, on the Southern side of the Mountains of Vaucluse. It is sprayed with Doa, tributary of Calavon. The village, perched on a hill in 400m of height dominates basin of Apt.
The main geologic sets met on the territory of the municipality of Rustrel belong all to the secondary era (lower and superior Cretaceous).

Village inserted among Luberon and Mountains of Vaucluse.

At agricultural level, we find cereal, a few vineyards, some olive trees, plum trees, cherry trees, almond trees, some colza, sunflower and a little fodder.

An important production of charcoal allowed the installation of 2 factories by 1840 and the treatment of the iron ore on the spot. By 1880, the extensive working of the ochre massif develops the economy of the village. By 1920, one counted until 25 extraction sites which exported 3 million tons of ochre all over the world. The crisis of the thirties, Second World War and development of the chemical colouring agents brought its extraction sites to be closed. The last site stopped in 1990. They are all these extraction sites which shaped on near 4 km in length this exceptional site, baptized Provençal Colorado, for the variety of its forms and the colours.

Musées

- Le Musée du Moulin à Huile

History
The mill was installed in the middle of the XVIII-th century in an ancient shed for carriages built some decades earlier. The presses of the mill were put in one of three carriage entrance.
It’s a private mill. For the moment, it’s presented in the condition of the middle of the XIX-th century, with press with metallic screw (the first one were completely wooden). The crusher was also changed: we preserved some elements of it. For the moment, the crusher which is in place should have credibly been changed again: it also presents evident tracks of wear.
The exact causes of the stop of the production in this mill are difficult to define, but certain number of elements can enlighten us. First of all it is important to clarify that when this mill begins its production, another mill already works: that of community of Rustrel, older, which repairs its own in the end of the XVIII-th century. Then in 1880, a second private mill opens its doors. This new mill is equipped with more modern metallic press and will be credibly the last one to produce some olive oil to Rustrel.
Besides the necessity of investing in the purchase of a new crusher for the mill and the installation of a more modern mill, decline of the production of olives to Rustrel in the thirties seem to be a determining factor of the lock of this mill.

Rate: 1 € from 14 years.

More information on the iste on the City hall of Rustrel >

Tél. : Contact : 04.90.04.98.49