Fontaine-de-Vaucluse Provence-Beyond (Beyond the French Riviera) ® Vaucluse (84) Population: 580 Altitude: 80 m Nearby: [ Cavaillon 14 | Gordes 15 | l'Isle/Sorgue 7 | Lagnes 5 | Murs | Pernes-les-Fontaines 17 | le Thor 12 | Venasque ] Photos: The seemingly still "Source" pool (19k) The river Sorgue just a few hundred meters below the source (24k) The rapids below the pool, and below the cliffs (21k) Below: [ History | Museums | Camping | Hiking | Lodging ] A tourist-site guarding the truly amazing sight of a river gushing up out of the ground. Although this southwestern corner of the mountainous Plateau de Vaucluse is beautiful, there's not much here but the source of the Sorgue river, and you'll have to pay to see it. If you drive through the village without stopping, you'll see some of tourist stalls, tourist stands and tourist shops. If you slow down while passing through, you'll see the lovely river past the tourist outlets, but if you stop, you'll pay. All parking, anywhere, including the dirt lots on the roads out of town, cost you. It's one of the very few places in France where you can't even stop without paying. The walk up past all the tourist stands to the source is packed with people in April, and no doubt worse during the peak summer months. If you're prepared for the payments and the throngs, the site could be worth the visit, because it's amazing and it's unique. At the base of high, rocky cliffs, a deep pool of seemingly still water is actually a full-fledged river gushing up out of the depths. A few meters from this pool, the white water rapids crash down over black rocks, giving away the truth of the "still waters" of the source. Below the rapids, the river settles down to a wide expanse in front of dams and waterwheels, passing under the bridge at the center of the village, and then flowing on downstream as a lovely river (photo above). The source pool is fed by collective rainfall in the Plateau de Vaucluse. If the season is dry, there won't be much water, but at a maximum this source produces water at an amazing 200 cubic meters a second, making it one of the most powerful resurgent springs in the world! Speleologists have searched, futilely for the source of the spring. In 1878 a descent of 23 m was made into the pool. As late as 1985, a small robot submarine went down 315 m, and still no bottom. Most recently, colored dye has been used to prove that the source originates somewhere high up on the Plateau de Vaucluse, flowing 20-30 km thorough rocky underground passages before it arrives at the still-looking pool. Dragon. Long before the speleologists could venture into the pool, it was made safe for them by Saint Véran who chased away the dragon that dwelt in the fountain's grotto. Paper Mill. One of the attractions in the village is a paper mill. Now a site for tourists to visit, this was a driving industrial force here from the 15th century. The banks of the river are lined with overhanging trees, parks, houses with lovely gardens, a few old factories and mills, and usually a scattering of fishermen. Just downstream from the village is the high, multi-arched 19th-century Aqueduct de Galas. Name First record, 1034: Vallis Clausa (for "closed valley") Named Vaucluse-la-Fontaine until 1946 History Prehistoric: there are still signs of prehistoric occupation. Roman: the old canal you can see along the left bank of the river, just below the rapids, was built by Constantine in the 4th century. Many Roman artifacts still remain, including columns. The castle ruins lurking on the rocks above the river are on the site of a 7th-century-BC oppidum; it was fortified and used during the late Roman period. Medieval: the commune belonged to the fief of the Counts of Toulouse. The village was pillaged and abandoned in the 14th century. Dates, Numbers Fête: 2nd Sunday July; Easter Monday; Pentecost Monday "Sound and Light Show: 15 June to 15 Sept. Festival de la Sorgue: last three weeks of July Syndicat d'Initiative - tel: (33) 490 20 32 22; fax: (33) 490 20 21 37 Museums Cristallerie des Papes Usine des Prés Tel: (33) 04 90 20 32 52; Fax: (33) 04 90 20 20 16 - Glass-blowing: mouth blown crystal (cristal soufflé bouche), workshop and museum - you can watch them work. Factory shop on the premises. Email: cristallerie-des-papes@libertysurf.fr Web: perso.libertysurf.fr/cristallerie-des-papes History Museum The history museum, on the walk between the village and the source, displays French and local history from the war years of 1939-1945. Geological Museum Le Monde Souterrain de Norber Casteret (The Underground World of...), is in an underground gallery on the walk between the village and the source. It has displays of speleology, caves and caverns, including information on the underground expeditions made looking for the source of the river Sorgue. Petrarch Museum This museum in the center of the village is for the 14th-century Italian poet Francesco de Petrarca (1304-74), who lived in a house at this same site. Historical Justice and Punishment Museum The "Musée Historique de la Justice et des Châtiments" exhibits implements of "justice", including a genuine Guillotine. tel: (33) 490 20 24 58; fax: (33) 490 20 24 26 Camping Hiking Maps: IGN "bleue" (1:25,000) 3141 ouest "Carpentras" IGN "bleue" (1:25,000) 3142 ouest "Cavaillon" Didier Richard (1:50,000) #27 "Ventoux" The GR6, GR91 and GR97 (Grande Randonnée) trails pass through or beside Fontaine-de-Vaucluse. To the south, the GR97-6 goes through forested hills between Lagnes and Cahrières-de-Avignon, crosses the farmlands of the Calavon river valley, and joins the many trails in the Luberon mountains. North out of the village, the GR91 crosses over the western end of the Plateau de Vaucluse, passing a maze of local hiking trails, and follows the edge of the plateau up past Venasque and Methamis before splitting into branches that go into the Gorges de la Nesque or the Ventoux mountains. To access the GR97-6 (GR6) that goes northeast onto the Plateau de Vaucluse and then east past Gordes, Roussillon and St. Saturnin-lès-Apt, follow the little D100a road south (direction Lagnes), about 300 m past the cemetery. There's an area to park, past the Auberge de Jeunesse, on your left. (This is also the start of the 4-hr loop hike, below.) Mur de la Peste (4 hr). For a nice 4-hr loop hike, follow the GR6 up the Vallon de la Font de l'Oule to the top (615 m), follow the dirt road alongside the Mur de la Peste south to the citerne #122 (water storage), turn right and follow the GR6 back down a wooded river valley to the road, and follow the road back down to your starting point. The hike up is long and exposed, so not great for a July-August mid-day start. At the top, you can hike along side a couple of km of the 18th-century Mur de la Peste. On the way back down, there's a wooden information board with map beside the citerne. The wooden map isn't clear, and the GR6 northwest isn't marked very well. Turn right (with the citerne on your left) and follow the trail down the narrow valley back to the road; it's a beautiful part of the hike. Lodging Listing available