La Fontaine de Vaucluse
La Fontaine de Vaucluse
La Fontaine de Vaucluse
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4.0
801 reviews
Excellent
351
Very good
272
Average
80
Poor
60
Terrible
38
mariedesjardins
Prince George, Canada7,140 contributions
July 2019 • Solo
Visited La Sorg to admire the Fontaine-de-Vaucluse on a day trip from Avignon. Enjoyed a refreshing dip nine the river near the water wheel. Really pretty area with cafes lining the waterfront.
Written 25 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NS_Ottawa
Ottawa, Canada65 contributions
Sept 2018 • Friends
Day 7: The Lubéron are a series of beautiful hilltop villages perched on the side of mountains (Monts de Vaucluse). They are the referred to as the Tuscany of France. They require dedicated days, even a week, to go through them all. Access to them is easier by car. Parking is available usually near the centre of each village, which is usually where the office of tourism of the village is located. Everything is walkable from there. Grab a free map and follow the footpath to explore the village. Each village has a different market day. Check out the tourism website for more details. In September, the village shops and cafés are open until 7pm (sunset). I imagine it’s the same throughout the low season. Unfortunately, we only had one day to explore so we chose 4 based on proximity and we rushed through them so didn’t get to sit and enjoy the food and scenery. The weather was beautiful, hot and sunny in mid Sep. (33ºC).
- Fontaine-de-Vaucluse: a cute hidden gem, a very small, peaceful and quite village with a lake of green water and the source of the River Sorgue. It is in the valley of the mountain. Hike up the path to find the mysterious source “founatain” of the River Sorgue at the end. This is where the stream begins from the base of the cliff as a result of rainwater and melting snow. Its strength depends on rainfall. There are souvenir and ice cream shops along the path.
- L’Isle-sur-Sorgue: “The Island on the Sorgue” (the name of the River), referred to as the Venice of France because it’s surrounded by water. The stream is clear and green and it flows from the Fonatine-de-Vaucluse. There are a number of mossy water wheels spread across the village. Google the walking map of the water wheels to find all 14 of them along the canal. There are cute restaurants and cafés along the canal. There is a Church square (Notre-Dame-des-Anges). The village is famous for its antique shops.
- Gordes: an insanely picturesque white stone village carved along cliffs and foothills of the mountains. It’s too beautiful to describe. Stop by the lookout point across from the village to take amazing photos of the area. The village has narrow cobblestone streets packed with stores and restaurants.
- Roussillon: known for its red Ochre sand cliffs, which is a sharp contrast to the scenery in Gordes. Colours are bold in Roussillon. The ochre is a natural pigment that was used in paints.
- Fontaine-de-Vaucluse: a cute hidden gem, a very small, peaceful and quite village with a lake of green water and the source of the River Sorgue. It is in the valley of the mountain. Hike up the path to find the mysterious source “founatain” of the River Sorgue at the end. This is where the stream begins from the base of the cliff as a result of rainwater and melting snow. Its strength depends on rainfall. There are souvenir and ice cream shops along the path.
- L’Isle-sur-Sorgue: “The Island on the Sorgue” (the name of the River), referred to as the Venice of France because it’s surrounded by water. The stream is clear and green and it flows from the Fonatine-de-Vaucluse. There are a number of mossy water wheels spread across the village. Google the walking map of the water wheels to find all 14 of them along the canal. There are cute restaurants and cafés along the canal. There is a Church square (Notre-Dame-des-Anges). The village is famous for its antique shops.
- Gordes: an insanely picturesque white stone village carved along cliffs and foothills of the mountains. It’s too beautiful to describe. Stop by the lookout point across from the village to take amazing photos of the area. The village has narrow cobblestone streets packed with stores and restaurants.
- Roussillon: known for its red Ochre sand cliffs, which is a sharp contrast to the scenery in Gordes. Colours are bold in Roussillon. The ochre is a natural pigment that was used in paints.
Written 17 November 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jim Smith
Northamptonshire, UK77 contributions
June 2018 • Couples
A stunning, picturesque village, a photographer’s dream with the river running through the centre. Plenty of shops, but mainly of the tourist variety, and a good selection of cafes and restaurants. You have to take the walk up to the source of the river visiting the old paper mill on the way up and an ice cream stall with a vast number of choices on the way back. Parking is a real issue in the middle of town but there are a couple of parking areas about 5 mins walk from the centre – recommend you use one of these – a bit disappointing they all charge 4 or 5 euros to park.
Written 7 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Iva S
Western Australia, Australia158 contributions
July 2017 • Friends
The small charming village is near one of the most powerful springs in the world nested on green waters of the La Sorque River surrounded by cliffs. It is picturesque and most relaxing village we visited. You can sit for hours listening to the sounds of water. The village has number of very good restaurants and shops. Other attractions are: small aqueduct near the village, water mill, spring cave and ruins of the castle. It is lovely place worth visiting. The village is approx 30 min away (by car) from Gordes and Senanque Abbey well known for fields of lavender flowering from June to August.
Written 5 August 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pete C
Spokane, WA31 contributions
July 2013 • Couples
If near Avignon, a top tourist spot, don't miss Fountaine de Vaucluse - a top tourist spot for the French but not seen by many Americans. Thomas Jefferson enjoyed all of France, but especially the south near Avignon, where he made a visit to the tomb of Petrach’s beloved Laura as well as Fountaine de Vaucluse (the closed valley), Petrach’s home. He wrote two impassioned letters to his daughter, Patsy, about the beauty of the area, the air filled with the songs of nightingales. You can see it, too, including the old castle on top of the hill where Petrach and Laura lived until his son died, and the hole in the rocks where Jefferson saw the bubbling torrent which springs right from the ground to become the Sorgue River. He said it was full of trout, but we didn’t spot any. You have to walk a few minutes up a nice tree-lined trail to get to the source, but there are food and drink places and tourist shops along the way. While it wasn’t ‘bubbling’ right out of the rocks when we visited, we did enjoy seeing what Jefferson saw including the bright emerald-green river (from the moss), the castle ruins on the hill, and the cylindrical stone monument to Petrach in town near the Hotel de Ville. The area is interesting enough, but in addition, the Sorgue was used as a trade route by the Phoenicians two thousand years ago, and Jacques Cousteau was nearly kllled in 1946 trying to find the bottom of the spring. There are several restaurants right on the river with great views looking over the emerald water. It's a short, easy drive, and good parking in town, too.
Written 9 June 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cath R
Camberley, UK239 contributions
Apr 2014 • Family
We visited La Fontaine de Vaucluse on a sunny April afternoon. It was a perfect time for a visit, not very busy and not too hot. I imagine in the summer it will be very busy. The drive was easy and it was well signposted. We parked just outside the village in a car park on the banks of the river where we had a picnic lunch watching the river rush by. It was a short walk to the pretty village, which we wandered around after our walk to La Source. It is a short uphill walk to the source of the river, there are tourist shops and boutiques along the path including a paper mill, where you can by handmade paper made on site.
There are many areas where you stop and take pictures or picnic. The walk is well worth it, the lagoon at the top appears really still, the water is crystal clear, then it plunges over the rocks with a roar on its journey down hill. Apart from the sound of the water, it's was very quiet, and peaceful. The water was high as we could not see the entrance to the cave.
There are many areas where you stop and take pictures or picnic. The walk is well worth it, the lagoon at the top appears really still, the water is crystal clear, then it plunges over the rocks with a roar on its journey down hill. Apart from the sound of the water, it's was very quiet, and peaceful. The water was high as we could not see the entrance to the cave.
Written 12 April 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hill-Special
Geneva, Switzerland245 contributions
Aug 2012 • Friends
We set off for the Fontaine-de-Vaucluse and as the Provence Green Guide says, it was pretty much dried up the height of a parched summer.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fontaine-de-Vaucluse
We rode our bikes most of the way up, locked them up and then walked to here.
It’s a bit like Malham cove, with the water ‘appearing’ at the base of a cliff.
We walked down to the water’s edge and, like everyone else, threw stones in to test to depth. Some guide books say it’s bottomless; it may ‘well’ have been once, but not anymore.
So it looks like we’d have to spend ‘A Year in Provence’ to see the fountain at its best in the winter storms and in the spring thaw.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fontaine-de-Vaucluse
We rode our bikes most of the way up, locked them up and then walked to here.
It’s a bit like Malham cove, with the water ‘appearing’ at the base of a cliff.
We walked down to the water’s edge and, like everyone else, threw stones in to test to depth. Some guide books say it’s bottomless; it may ‘well’ have been once, but not anymore.
So it looks like we’d have to spend ‘A Year in Provence’ to see the fountain at its best in the winter storms and in the spring thaw.
Written 7 January 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
richard b
Winston Salem, NC132 contributions
The source is very interesting, a river starting at the end of a box canyon and delivering a very robust river from 150 feet below the ground. The hike in is easy and pretty, once you are past the tourist shops.
Worth the drive, allow about 2 hours.
Worth the drive, allow about 2 hours.
Written 9 May 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ToursJones
United Kingdom468 contributions
Dec 2016 • Family
Set in a small enclosed valley this pretty little town by the river Sorgue is a draw for visitors curious to see the famous source, reportedly the largest spring in France. There are several pay-to-park areas in town. The walk is easy and mostly level alongside the river. Lots of touristy souvenir shops at the outset. Pass through the paper-making water mill on the way (no charge) as the equipment is interesting and the shop has better quality items. The final section narrows and climbs to the mouth of the spring at the end of the valley. Take care on wet rocks. The colours of the river are varied and beautiful. The flow does vary at different times of year. Look for kayakers attempting the course. Made-to-order crepes outside a cafe were delicious, with a simple choice of fresh lemon and sugar or jam or Nutella.
Written 15 April 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Annie A
York, UK385 contributions
Sept 2019 • Couples
La Fontaine de Vaucluse is a fab place to visit, especially when it is full of water! It is a very pretty little village It is famous for being the town where the source of the Sorgue River is located. There are plenty of places to have a drink, a snack or a meal - or just an ice cream. A pretty steep climb to the top to see the paper mill (open every day from 15th January to 31st December). The paper is made from rags in tanks as it was in the 15th century. The paper is made on site and specialist paper is sold to specialists such as calligraphers, artists etc. I bought some for my calligraphy and it is beautiful. It is possible to see the paper being made from the gallery which takes you for a walk along the work space. Also you can see the huge water wheel (outside). Definitely worth a visit. The walk and entrance to the paper milll is handicapped accessible.
Written 21 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How long does the walk to the mouth of the spring take?
Written 19 January 2020
Hi, what is the best way to go to Fontaine de Vaucluse from Avignon centre? As far as I searched, I found the train which will be arrived at "L’Isle-sur-Sorgue—Fontaine-de-Vaucluse", but I'm confused that this train is going to Fontaine de Vaucluse or L'Isle sur Sorgue. I'll be so appreciated if you can answer me. Merci.
Written 12 August 2018
We had a rental car. Traveling through Provence is very difficult without one. There is no mass transit between the cities. There may be some buses but not sure about that. I was hesitant about driving but it was really quite easy. You must visit Fontaine de Vaucluse! It’s so beautiful! Good luck!
Written 13 August 2018
Bonjour,
Il vous suffisait juste de franchir le grillage qui est à terre et vous aviez accès à la résurgence.
J'y suis allé hier matin tôt afin de commencer une longue rando depuis la résurgence, et n'ai pas eu de problème pour y accéder !
Written 19 March 2018
toilettes publiques pres du parking tres mal tenues !!!
Written 2 November 2015
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