Tarascon

Tarascon, a walled town of France, in the Provençal department of Bouches-du-Rhone, 14 miles SW. of Avignon by rail and 8 N. of Arles. King René's castle, dating from 1400, is picturesque and well preserved; and a Gothic church (1187-14th century) is dedicated to St Martha, who here is said to have subdued a dragon. But Tarascon is chiefly famous through associations with the immortal Tartarin. It has manufactures of woollen and silk fabrics, 'saucissons d'Arles,' &c. Pop. (1872) 8479; (1891) 6597.