Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
7. FONTAINE-DE-VAUCLUSE
From the base of grandiose, 230-m (750-ft) high cliffs, Europe's most powerful
spring pumps out the water which creates the River Sorgue. The romance and mys-
tery of the setting (no one has yet found the exact source of the water) attracts mil-
lions of visitors every year, as it once attracted 14th-century Italian poet Petrarch (for
further details see
Fontaine-de-Vaucluse
)
. Downstream of the source, the charm-
ing little village celebrates its most famous inhabitant with a museum in one of the
houses claimed to have been his. It also has two excellent museums; about World
War II and the other on speleology (caves and caving).
Google Map
Pétrarch Library Museum • Rive gauche de la Sorgue • Open May-mid-Nov:
Wed-Mon • Adm
Google Map
Museum d'Histoire • Chemin du Gouffre • Open Apr-mid-Nov: Wed-Mon; mid-
Nov-Dec, Mar: Sat-Sun • DA • Adm
Google Map
SpeleologyMuseum•CheminduGouffre•OpenFeb-mid-Nov:daily•DA•Adm
Google Map
8. LES DENTELLES DE MONTMIRAIL
Probably the prettiest mountain range in Provence, the Dentelles are formed by three
ridges of chalk topped by ragged crests. The French think of these as lacework
(den-
telles)
, but they can look more like fangs in rough weather. Within the range, tiny
villages (Suzette, La Roque Alric) cling to the crags as if by magic and climbers are at-
tracted to the sheer rock-faces. The walking, too, is spectacularly good, notably up to
St Amand, at 730 m (2,400 ft), the highest point. Round the western edge cluster the
picturesque wine villages of Beaumes-de-Venise, Gigondas, Vacqueyras and Séguret.
It's advisable to stop here after, rather than before, a ramble (for further details see
Google Map
