Fontaine de Vaucluse - Where it all began.....

When I made the decision to study in France in 1988-89, Avignon was my city of choice.  The city was not too big, it had a nice personality and there was a full-year French program through Stony Brook.   While I was living there, a few of my classmates and I decided to ride our bikes to a small town 35k from Avignon, Fontaine de Vaucluse.  Our plan was to stay in the youth hostel, visit the town and hang out at the youth hostel.  That weekend, I talked to some international back packers, walked up to visit the spring of Fontaine de Vaucluse and I met my future husband.  Little did I know then that I would come back to this lovely little village almost every year since.  

Fontaine de Vaucluse, although a tourist town, might not be on A list for Americans, it is certainly on the A list for Europeans.  It is the most visited location in the Luberon. The Sorgue river is born here.  This river originates as a spring gushing out of a hole at the base of a cliff. The water coming from rain and melted snow on Mount Ventoux, Montaigne de Lurs and les Monts de Vaucluse.  The sheer quantity of water coming out of the hole is impressive, at times it flows out over the rocks and you can't get too close (90m3 per second = 5450 gallons per minute).  Other times, in the dry season, you can walk right up to the base of the cliff and see from where the water flows.  You can also see the water marks on the cliff walls indicating wetter times.

Here, the water level is high, but not gushing.

The water is very low here.

Throughout the years, the water of the Sorgue has been harnessed for many different uses.  Today you can visit Vallis Clausa, a reconstructed XVth century paper mill that produces high quality paper.  The site also houses other artists using traditional methods such as glass blowing, woodworking, silk painting and candy making.  Sophia loves the enormous lolly pops, but she can never seem to finish them.  In the summer, the path that leads up to the spring is filled with different vendors selling, clothing, pottery, crèpes, trinkets and loud cigale (cicadas).  

The village is beautiful and even on the hottest days there is a cool breeze that comes off the Sorgue.  The water flowing in the river is a chilly 13c - 55F.  

The Italian poet, Francesco Petrarch, made his home in Fontaine de Vaucluse in the 14th century.  He found peace and tranquility in the valley.  It is here that he wrote his famous love poems to Laure. You can visit the Petrarch museum and stroll along the banks of the Sorgue dreaming up your own love poems.

No visit to Fontaine de Vaucluse is compete without a climb up to the Château.  Sophia and I climb up to the château every time we visit.  Luckily my sister-in-law lives half way up the hill so I don't have to start from the bottom.  The views from the chateau are spectacular, you can see the village, the limestone cliffs and the mountains off in the distance.  The climb is easy and exploring the ruins is fun.

We enjoy spending time in Fontaine the Vaucluse.  In the summer, when it is almost impossible to find a place to park but there is a fun atmosphere or in the off season when families come here for a quiet afternoon stroll.  This place is an important part of my family where we will return year after year.