HOLIDAYS in PROVENCE: FONTAINE DE VAUCLUSE
Closed Valley, "Vallis Clausa"

DISCOVER THIS VILLAGE AND ITS SOURCE
IN A ONLY ONE NATURAL SITE

Ruins of the XIV° Bishops of Cavaillon château ~ ND de St Véran church ~ Remains of the Roman Canal on the River Sorgue ~ Pétrarque Museum (in the italian poet's former residence, XIV°) ~ Ecomusée du santon et traditions provençales(Santon Museum) ~ L'appel de la liberté musée d'histoire 1939-1945 ( Résistance Museum) ~ Ecomusée du gouffre ~ (Underwater Museum Caves) ~ Papes Crystal makers (hand blown crystal) ~ Paper Mill (hand made paper, XV° century techniques))

The unusal geography of this village, which the departement of Vaucluse was named after, is at the origin of the name Vaucluse, "Vallis Clausa", in latin, or Closed Valley. It surges from the earth at the foot of steep cliffs over 230 meters high. Its emerald-green spring flows from one of the biggest subterranean rivers in the world. Smaller springs flow into the Sorgue river, forming lovely pools shaded by immense plane trees.

FONTAINE DE VAUCLUSE

This naturally beautiful site has inspired poets such as
François Pétrarque, Frédéric Mistral and René Char.

While walking, you will discover:

- Ruins of the XIV° Bishops of Cavaillon Castle.
- The Provençal Romanesque style church (XI°), built on the ruins of the pagan temple, houses the St. Veran's tom in the crypt.
- A column ercted in 1804, to mark the 500^th anniversary of Petrarch's birth.
- The ruins of Roman Canal built along the left bank of the Sorgue river.

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