Baux, Les

Baux, Les (lā bō) [key], village (1993 est. pop. 458), Bouches-du-Rhône dept., SE France, in Provence. Nearby are the ruins of a medieval town. The once flourishing town, carved out of dazzling white limestone, was the seat of a powerful feudal family. Destroyed by gunfire in 1632 as a stronghold of enemies of the crown, its ruins are a great tourist attraction. Bauxite was first discovered (1821) there and named accordingly.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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