Carpentras is a commune in the Vaucluse department in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. As capital of the Comtat Venaissin, it was frequently the residence of the Avignon popes; the Papal States retained possession of the Venaissin until the French Revolution. Nowadays, Carpentras is a commercial center for Comtat Venaissin and is famous for the black truffle markets held from winter to early spring.