The Secret of the Emerald: The Mystery of Fontaine-de-Vaucluse
At the foot of a gigantic 230-metre-high cliff, where the limestone seems to touch the sky, lies one of the most mysterious places in Europe. Welcome to Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, the village that gave its name to the department (Vallis Clausa, the Closed Valley) and which is home to a spring whose depths no one has yet been able to reach.
The Abyss of All Mysteries
Imagine water of a deep emerald green, calm and still in summer, churning and raging in spring. This is where the Sorgue, France’s most powerful river, has its source.
For decades, legendary explorers, including the famous Commander Cousteau, have attempted to unlock the secret of the chasm. Underwater robots have descended to a depth of 308 metres, but the labyrinth of rock continues even further down. Where does this water come from? No one really knows. This uncertainty makes the spring an almost sacred place, a gateway to the bowels of the Earth.
The Refuge of Love: Petrarch and Laura
But Fontaine-de-Vaucluse is not merely a geological marvel; it is the cradle of Romanticism. In the 14th century, the Italian poet Petrarch settled here to escape the turmoil of the world. It was on the banks of the Sorgue that he wrote his most beautiful verses for Laura, his impossible love.
“Here, I have made myself a Rome, an Athens, a homeland…” he wrote.
Strolling along the quays, one can still feel that gentle melancholy. The village invites you to slow down, to listen to the song of the paper mills that still turn today, perpetuating a unique medieval craft.
Why you’re going to fall for it:
The Power of Water: Watching the spring ‘swell’ after the rains is a natural spectacle of raw power.
The Paper Mill: Visit the Vallis Clausa to see rag paper being made before your very eyes, just as it was in the 15th century.
Eternal Coolness: Even during Provençal heatwaves, the valley retains a cool, invigorating breeze.