Coat of arms :
De gueules à
deux clefs d'or
appuyant sur la tige
par leurs pattes
antérieures
et regardant à
dextre et à senestre.

In the Carolingian era, it was spelled first Malaucena, then Malaucène (988), Malauscéna (1268), Maleuceuna (1269), Malausene (1274).
Its etymology: 'Malaussena' designates the 'tuf' or blue clay and, by extension, the safre or bad sand.
Owned by the papacy in 1929, Malaucène housed the Summer residence of the Pope Clément V.
Clément V imposed his presence on the town by having built the Church - Fortress St Michel et St Pierre at the beginning of the 14th c. (modified in 1714). Its nave is Romanic, and dates from the 18th c. Of note are its extraordinary oak pulpit, sculpted by local artists: the Charoles brothers; the J.J Posalgues organ (1537), a true gem which was restored in its true spirit in 1965 by Alain Sals.

Destroyed entirely by the Wars of religion, Malaucène has only kept a few doors from its ancient fortified walls and some walls on the hillock of an old castle. The old clock tower (1482) stands, with its belfry, in the town centre.

A few miles from there, on the D97 road, on the way to the Mont Ventoux, the Groseau spring, born in the Ventoux, flows into a classified small valley, a true oasis of freshness. In the old days it was renowned as a place where people came from afar to seek solace from pains and ailments. It was also the place where the divinity Graselos was honoured.

The palace that Clément V had built was destroyed during the Revolution, but the small Romanic Chapel Notre Dame du Groseau is still standing (11th - 12th century). in spite of some modifications made during the 19th century it is still a charming and authentic place to visit.

Nowadays, Malaucène is a largish village with, amongst its assets, industry (the papeteries de Malaucène), agriculture and also tourism.
The village is surrounded by a remarkable provençal road ('cours') planted with huge centuries-old platanes. On the Cours Isnard are all the restaurants, cafés, hotels and shops you may require.

Located 11 miles from Vaison la Romaine, Malaucène is the capital of the Ventoux and the starting point of numerous walks or horseback riding circuits towards the Mont Ventoux.