라 로크 쉬르 페르네스‬에서 가장 멋진 ‪13‬개의 천연기념물

Fontaine de Vaucluse의 Sorgue 강 유역

A beautiful and mostly leisurely hiking trail through the gorge. Occasional climbing sections.

Hike done with a group of 17 from the village of Borries towards Senanque which we were unable to reach. The path in the Senancole valley is pleasant even if strewn with small pitfalls. At the top of the valley the rocky passage is too difficult for some people and we had to turn back.

The place is the namesake of the department of Vaucluse. Until 1946, this was also the official name of the municipality. In order to avoid confusion, it was decided in that year to change the name to Fontaine-de-Vaucluse. Vaucluse is derived from the Latin "Vallis clausa" which means "closed valley". During the Middle Ages, the village church was a place of pilgrimage because of the tomb of Bishop Veranus of Cavaillon.

The Lagnes Botanical Trail offers an immersion in the nature of Vaucluse, with a rich diversity of trees such as holm oaks, Atlas cedars, and a remarkable pine forest. The site is also home to local wildlife, including the southern warbler. There we discover old cultivation terraces, dry stone walls, and grazing areas, testifying to ancient agricultural practices. The panorama of the Luberon and the Montmirail laces is spectacular.

It is in this village that springs from the rocks the source of the Sorgue which is the largest resurgence in Europe. The underground river rises from the depths above a vertiginous cliff 230 meters high. Its flow is enormous: it is ranked fifth in the world with an annual flow of 630 to 700 million cubic meters. The beauty of this natural site makes it one of the most visited places in the department. In the past, it attracted many poets and writers who came to meditate here: Pétrarque, Chateaubriand, Frédéric Mistral and René Char are some examples. A word of advice: in the middle of the tourist season, go visit the source early in the morning, because the flow of tourists is also important.

Built around 1030 (probably along with its church), a deed of donation mentions it in 1034, but the ruins date from the early twelfth century. The extraordinary place "Vallis Clausa", the closed valley, was the inspiration for the name Vaucluse.

The trail does not end at this monument but goes another 600 meters and eventually meets a department road from Saumane. That point is somewhat higher at 713 meters. The views from the monument are spectacular.