The Secret of the Fontiane - at the end of a Closed Valley!

Considering that we had been travelling to Provence for so many years, I couldn’t believe that we had never visited Fontaine de Vaucluse!  Particularly since it is soooo close to Isle sur la Sorgue, which we never miss on each visit... And double-especially, since a Belgian couple highly recommended it after spending a whole day there. They were also guests at Mas Pichony (where we stayed  a number of times in the days BMdeP – Before we purchased Maison des Pelerins).  But that was before our last Provence vacation, in October of last year.

The "Secret" of the Fontaine

As we drove into the village, it was clear why so many people speak so highly of it – after about a 10 km ride along the D25 through pretty farmland and orchards, until you cross the Sorgue River upstream and enter the deep valley where kayaking and canoeing is a popular activity. 

An elegant bridge over the D25, across the Sorgue as it flows from Fontaine de Vaucluse

A little further along the valley brings you into the shady, tree lined streets of this picturesque village.  As you would expect, there are lots of Cafés and Restaurants lining the riverbanks where visitors can take in the view while they enjoy a drink or a meal.  In all of this it is not very different from many beautiful little villages in Provence.  I was prepared for a beautiful village and lovely scenery.  

Looking towards the town's square from one of the riverside restaurants 

The Town Square is shaded with towering Plane trees and surrounded with interesting shops, restaurants and  the  Santon Museum

Always helpful - an information map of the town helps visitors get their bearings

What I wasn’t prepared for were the many different aspects of this village in a “closed valley”, or Vaucluse (which lends its name to this whole Department in Provence – the Vaucluse).  We were completely taken with the dramatic landscape of a 240 meter cliff that towers over the village and at the foot of which a “spring” – the biggest spring in France, and the fifth largest in the world (having an annual flow of 630 million cubic metres of water) bursts to life, creating the Sorgue River. 

As you walk along the banks of the river towards the source, you see the towering cliffs at the end of the valley, and  the Archbishop's Palace from varying angles - sometimes straight up towering cliffs, sometimes dotted with caves and sometimes covered by large trees.

This view of the cliffs shows the entrance to a large cave

An 800 meter walkway on the banks of the river allows visitors to walk all the way, past smaller springs and waterfalls all the way to “the source”. 

Along the river bank - tall trees shade visitors and stall holders who offer a variety of  souvenirs and refreshments 

Smaller springs pop up out of the rocks all the way along the river

Peace and serenity along this stretch of the river where you often see visitors sitting  down and just taking it all in

A small waterfall adds interest and beauty  to this river along the way

October was a very pleasant time to visit – the weather was sunny and warm, but we were there at the end of “the secheresse”  a very dry summer, and while the smaller springs were still gushing, the main “source” was not flowing, which gave us a wonderful opportunity to gauge the enormous opening in the cliffs where I can only imagine what it must look like on a day when up to 1.8 million cubic meters gushes through!  On the way, up there we passed a number of people enjoying the beautiful surroundings while fishing or simply sitting on one of the benches pondering this amazing and slightly mysterious place where so much water just comes gushing out of the ground.

"The Source" - during the Spring  and early Summer this large cave (Spring) in the rock gushes  millions of cubic  meters of water  pushing  it out all the way along the river

I guess they and we were not the first people to have been taken by the beauty and mystery of this closed valley – as far back as 1337, Francesco Petrarch – Italian Priest turned Poet settled in Fontaine de Vaucluse  close to his good friend Philippe de Cabassolle, Bishop of Cavaillon whose Medieval Palace is perched high on the cliff overlooking the village. 

The Archbishop's Palace as seen from the town's square

This "Panneau" gives visitors information about the Archbishop's Palace on the hill

The ruins of this Palace can still be seen from the village and if you like hiking, you can walk up there.  

Along the River walk, this Plaque pays tribute to Petrarch (notice that his name in French is Francois Petrarque)

Petrarch who, with his family, came to Avignon (when he was young),  following the Papal Court of Clement V during the Avignon Papacy,  left the priesthood after laying eyes on a woman who is known as “Laura” and who became the subject of many of his writings – even though they had no contact.  It is said that Laura was a married woman.  

Through the Iron Gates to the Petrarch Museum

The Petrarch Museum - once inside the Iron Gated courtyard

Much of his work was done in Fontaine de Vaucluse which he found to be an inspiring place.  As far back as the 16^th Century, many literary scholars and well known personalities visited this village to pay tribute to Petrarch – so it has been a well visited site for a very long time.

The Old  Water Wheel marks the entrance to the Old Paper Mill

During the 15^th Century, local entrepreneurs began to harness the power of the water rushing from the spring, building water wheels that powered  mills and, at that time Fontaine had a thriving paper mill and was quite an industrial force.  It continued to operate and provide the region with locally made paper until mills operated by electricity rendered this method of production obsolete.  

Here is the explanation of the reconstitution of the Old Paper Mill

Heavy wooden mallets worked the wood chips or other source materials into a pulp - the first stage in producing paper

A history of paper production and  the equipment used in the process

Today, visitors to Fontaine can take a walk back in time through the lovely Old Paper Mill and see just what went into the early production of paper in the early days of industrialism, as well as buying some of the fare of this mill.

Small and large caves in the cliffs above the town made an ideal place for the  Resistance fighters to take shelter

As time passed on and World War II brought occupation and great hardship to the citizens of France. Its location at the base of a steep cliff, made Fontaine an ideal spot for the operations of the local Resistance, known as the Maquis – where hiding in the inhospitable cliffs above the village made it less than likely that they would be discovered.  It’s difficult to comprehend the impact of the occupation on the lives of villagers (right throughout France), but we do get a glimpse into what their world was like.

The Musee d'Histoire  tells the story of another time when life was not so easy for the inhabitants of this area

The Musée d’Histoire, which  occupies one of the old Paper Mills was opened in 1990 – and is dedicated to the what they called “the Dark Years” of occupation - after the humiliation of defeat when the Resistance Movement became active.  I have just finished reading “The Citadel” by Kate Mosse which dealt with the same subject matter, although it was set in the Languedoc – an excellent book that reminds us that not so long ago, these villages and towns underwent and withstood extremely harsh times.

Just these three aspects of a very old town at the end of a closed valley in Provence are enough to stir interest and make you ponder Fontaine and its mysterious past – but there is a lot more to see and do here ..

Artisnal Glass Blowers turn out truly unique pieces

Colorful boats lined up at a boat rental company - Canoe Evasion (just outside the town on the D25),

Learn about the history of the Provencal tradition of Santon making decorating  with Santons

You're never short of charming riverside cafes to stop along the way for a cool drink or a meal

This area is very popular with Bicyclists

... kayaking and canoeing, a santon museum, great hiking and rock climbing, lots of wonderful picnic spots, the Petrarch Museum, a 12^th Century Romanesque church…but if you are just looking for some quiet time..

Going with the flow ....

... buy a Gelato at one of the shops on the river bank, find a seat under  a Plane tree - enjoy your ice cream and let yourself go with the flow!