La Barben
La Barben (; ) is a commune in the Bouches-du-Rhône department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southern France. The inhabitants of the commune are known as "Barbenais" or "Barbenaises". The town is perhaps best known for its castle and its zoo. Geography. La Barben is located some 18 km north-west of Aix-en-Provence and 5 km east of Salon-de-Provence. Access to the commune is by the D572 road from Salon-de-Provence which passes through the centre of the commune and continues east to Saint-Cannat. The D17 from Pélissanne to  Éguilles forms the south-western border of the commune. The D67E from Lambesc to Coudoux forms the south-eastern border of the commune. The D22A comes from Pelissane and passes through the village continuing as the D22 to join the D572 in the centre of the commune next to the zoo. The commune is served by routes 9 and 14 of the Libébus network. The Touloubre river flows through the centre of the commune from the east and continues west to join the Mediterranean Sea south of Saint-Chamas. The "Vallat de Boulery" forms the northern border of the commune  as it flows west to join the Touloubre at the village. The Canal de Marseille comes from the south and passes through the centre of the commune continuing north-east. Climate. Weather Data for La Barben History. Middle Ages. The death of Queen Joanna I of Naples created a succession crisis for the County of Provence with the cities of the Union of Aix (1382-1387) supporting Charles III of Naples against Louis I, Duke of Anjou. The King of France, Charles VI, intervened and sent the Seneschal of Beaucaire, Enguerrand d'Eudin, who conquered La Barben in the summer of  1383. When Louis I died and his widow, Marie of Blois, Duchess of Anjou, arrived in Provence to defend the rights of her son, Louis II of Naples, she claimed that the seneschal gave her the city which she refused on the instruction of the King of France. Administration. List of Successive Mayors Demography. In 2017 the commune had 845 inhabitants. Culture and heritage. Civil heritage. The commune has many buildings and sites that are registered as historical monuments: Religious heritage. The commune has several religious buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments: