Approaching the mythic source, visitors enter a place of ancient pilgrimage. Instinctively, arriving at the end of the path and overlooking the chasm, they give the Fontaine a sacred meaning.
In the guides for Provence, invariably, they learn that the spring had been celebrated by Seneca, Petrarch and René Char. From historical sources, they'll also know that "Vallis Clausa" was the original name, from 979 AD, for this site blessed by the gods. In 1946, It was decided to call it Fontaine de Vaucluse to avoid any confusion with the name of the department...
The source of Fontaine de Vaucluse, in France
The Sorgue comes from an immense underground network of waters, and has an average flow of 630 million m3 per year, the biggest in France and one of the biggest worldwide. The river is cool and peaceful in the summer, surging and impetuous in spring and fall. The Fontaine de Vaucluse, in France, a true whim of nature, continues to challenge researchers and curious minds, as it has since time immemorial.
The waters which surge forth from the base of the cliff come from the rainwater and snow melt which infiltrate the ground as they run off Mont Ventoux, the Monts de Vaucluse and Lure Mountain - accounting for a catchment area of 1100 km. The only place this water comes out of the ground is at the Fontaine de Vaucluse, in France.
Fontaine de Vaucluse in spring
High water in Fontaine de Vaucluse
Sorgomètre and level source
The Monts de Vaucluse
Having gone out to dance with the girls of Isle sur la Sorgue one hot day, the old fiddler Basile fell asleep in the shade, on the road called Chemin de Vaucluse. A nymph as beautiful as the clear waters appeared, took the sleeping man's hand and led him to the edge of the basin where the Sorgue river opens out. Before them, the waters parted and let them descend between two walls of liquid crystal to the bottom of the chasm. After a long underground walk, the nymph, in the middle of a cheerful prairie sown with supernatural flowers, stopped the fiddler in front of 7 big diamonds. Lifting one of them, she made a strong fountain of water gush forth. And lo, she said, the secret of the spring of which I am the guardian. To make it swell, I take away the diamonds ; with the seventh, the water reaches "the fig tree that drinks only once a year", and she disappeared as she awoke Basile from his slumber.
Spelunkers have conducted experiments which added dyes to the underground waterways in the limestone hills, revealing the existence of collectors, veritable natural drains which feed the Fontaine de Vaucluse.
In the late 19th century, many explorations took place which have helped us partially understand the mystery of the water's origin and the way it works...
Old postcard of Fontaine de Vaucluse
Spelunkers have conducted experiments which added dyes to the underground waterways in the limestone hills, revealing the existence of collectors, veritable natural drains which feed the Fontaine de Vaucluse.
In the late 19th century, many explorations took place which have helped us partially understand the mystery of the water's origin and the way it works...
Key dates in the exploration of Fontaine de Vaucluse
1878 : OTONELLI, diver from Marseille, reached -23m in a diving suit.
1938 : NEGRI thought he had reached the bottom at -30m.
1946 : COUSTEAU and his crew reached -46m.
1954 : MAGRELLI reached -25m.
1955 : The OFRS (COUSTEAU crew) did 80 dives, reaching -74m and probing down to -84m.
1967 : The COUSTEAU crew immersed the Télénaute, a device which went down to -106m.
1974 : The GRSA surveyed the swallow hole. After this dive, a decree was issued prohibiting any further explorations.
1981 : The "Société Spéléologique de Fontaine de Vaucluse (SSFV)" resumed research. TOULOUMDJIAN, assisted by the COMEX reached -153m using a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus.
1983 : HASENMAYER, a German diver, reached the incredible depth of -205m using a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus. The SSFV and the ACRC went down in the Sorgonaute and reached -245m with a wire-guided device.
1984 : Descent and implosion of the Sorgonaute II at -205m.
1985 : The SSFV and the MIC firm sent the MODEXA instrument carrier down, which blocked at -308m on a sandy bottom after having found two galleries in the south-east direction.
1986 : The ACRC attempted a new experiment and had to abandon the Sorgonaute III at around -200m. This device remains the prisoner of the pit.
1989 : Using the Spélénaute, the SSFV sees the conduit again, draws up a new section of the swallow hole down to -308m and attempts to enter the galleries identified in 1985, however they are too narrow and the Spélénaute cannot enter.
1993 : Nicolas HULOT, dives down to -40m for the television show USHUAIA.
1996 : The SSFV, using the Spélénaute, discovers an immense room at -174m.
The village of Fontaine de Vaucluse and its paddle wheels
Office de Tourisme - Résidence Jean Garcin - 84800 Fontaine de Vaucluse
+33 (0)4 90 20 32 22
http://www.oti-delasorgue.fr/Where to sleep?
