A Guide to the Best Things to do in Fontaine de Vaucluse

Last Updated on 29th April 2024 by Sophie Nadeau

Partially named for being the source of the River Sorgue which emerges as a spring on the fringes of town, Fontaine de Vaucluse is a dreamy Provençal town in Vaucluse with plenty of nearby attractions and points of interest. Here’s your ultimate guide to the best things to do in Fontaine de Vaucluse, as well as what to know before you go.

Fontaine de Vaucluse has been inhabited since Roman times and today boasts a permanent population of just under 600 residents, though this number swells in the summertime. Rather interesting, the name Fontaine de Vaucluse actually came about in two parts.

Originally, the town was named Vallis Clausa by the Romans. This means ‘closed valley’. The ‘Fontaine de’, on account of it being the source of the river Sorgue, was only added in the middle of the 20th-century to omit confusion between the name of the region and the name of the town itself.

I would personally say that the best time to visit is May and June or September when the weather is fabulous, but the crowds aren’t at their peak. In order to enjoy all that Fontaine de Vaucluse has to offer, you’ll want to stay for two or three days. Hands down, this is one of the cosiest places to stay in town.

Where is Fontaine de Vaucluse?

Fontaine de Vaucluse is located in the South of France, in a culturally rich and historic area known as Provence. Nearby towns of note include L’Isle Sur la Sorgue (8 km away) and Avignon (34 km to the West).

What is Fontaine de Vaucluse known for?

Fontaine de Vaucluse is best-known for being the source of the Sorgue River and the town is now a major holiday destination. Today, the Provence town is one of the most visited places in the Vaucluse.

The beauty of the town has inspired plenty of writers and poets over the years, including Frederic Mistral, Francois Petrarque (who wrote of his love for Laura de Noves), and Rene Char. There is a column in the centre of the town, in Place de la Colonne, which was erected in the 19th-century to commemorate Petrarch.

There are a number of museums in Fontaine de Vaucluse which showcase the history and culture of the area and its surrounds. There used to be a Santon Museum, but it has since permanently closed down.

Best things to do in Fontaine de Vaucluse

See the Source

The Source of the Sorgue River (i.e. the Fountain of Vaucluse) is situated at the bottom of a 230 sheer limestone cliff face. It’s fairly large as a spring and even boasts the title of being the largest spring in France and the 5th largest spring in the world. A staggering 630 million cubic meters of water flows from the source each year.

Truth be told, however, that while we were drawn to visiting Fontaine de Vaucluse on account of the dazzling photos we had seen online, what we saw in reality was a murky green pool that wasn’t anything to write home about.

This is because, while the best time to see the town is in the summer, the Source itself dries up fairly considerably during the spring and summer.

Walk along the Chemin de la Fontaine 

Seeing the spring itself is not the only way to enjoy the water. Indeed, it’s worth noting that you can’t arrive in Fontaine de Vaucluse and walk straight up to the fountain. Instead, there is a fifteen minute or so walk between the heart of the town and the Source itself.

While the first part of the route is filled with tacky tourist shops (no souvenirs are worth buying there), further along the route allows you to enjoy seeing the rapidly flowing river Sorgue as it turns emerald. We also enjoyed a picnic on this path, though you won’t want to do this when it has just rained and the water levels are high.

Enjoy local Provençal food

One of the greatest joys of this Provençal town is dining in one of the many restaurant terraces that line both sides of the River Sorgue in the heart of town. Some of the best rated restaurants include La Figuiere Fontaine de Vaucluse and Restaurant Philip.

Fontaine de Vaucluse Church (Église Saint-Véran de Fontaine-de-Vaucluse)

The church of Our Lady and Saint Veranus is a Romanesque style church which dates back to the 10th-century, though was heavily modified in the 12th-century.

Both the exterior and interiors are rather plain and the can be visited for free. The interior of the church is also the final resting place of Saint Véran, who is alleged to have rid the village of a monster in the 6th-century.

Bishops of Cavaillon Castle

The 14th-century castle ruins are known as Château de Philippe de Cabassolle and stand tall and mighty above the rest of the town. The Château can be seen from pretty much every vista in Fontaine de Vaucluse, which just adds to its charm.

Free to visit, the hike from the centre of the town to the Château takes about 15 minutes- but be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes and bring water! The hike is honestly quite tough and you’ll be scrambling to get up the hills at certain times.

With this being said, the struggle to get to the top is more than worth it. The views are particularly breathtaking and one of the best photo spots in all of Provence can be found in the form of a little window in a crumbling ruin which overlooks the rest of the town.

Watersports

For those who love outdoor adventure activities during their vacations, renting a canoe or kayak is a must. There are several places where you can rent canoes and kayaks across town, though the most popular by far is Kayak Vert.

During my most recent trip to Fontaine de Vaucluse, my friends and I went on one of the guided kayak tours of Fontaine de Vaucluse to L’Isle Sur La Sorgue. Taking place over the course of several hours, we paddled down the stream and enjoyed magical views along the route.

Petrarch Museum (Musée-Bibliothèque François Pétrarque)

Set against the backdrop of the Italian poet Francesco Petrarca’s former 14th-century residence, the Petrach Museum (Petrarca is Pétrarque in French and Petrarch in English) is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Fontaine de Vaucluse.

The museum exhibits tell the history of Petrarca, as well as the 20th-century poet René Char, who was also inspired by the town and surrounding area.

As well as several indoor rooms and exhibits, there’s a lovely garden which boasts roses blooming in the summer months. The museum cost €5 for an adult and is free every first Sunday of the month.

Resistance Museum (L’appel de la liberté musée d’histoire 1939-1945)

Fontaine de Vaucluse has no shortage of museums and one of them is dedicated to the French Resistance. The museum shows visitors what it looked like to live in Vaucluse during the Nazi Occupation of France and there are reconstructed rooms of what various places in town would have looked like during this time.

Underwater Museum (Le Monde Souterrain Collection Nobert Casteret)

A museum displaying upwards of 400 specimens collected by Norbert Casteret over the course of 50 years, the Underwater Museum showcases research about the history of the source and caves of the area. You can only visit this museum via guided tour. The speleological museum also contains fine stalactites.

Paper Mill (Moulin à Papier)

Yet another museum in town, only this time free to visit, is the reconstructed paper mill museum. The cultural centre showcases hand made paper and 15th-century techniques and has a small shop where you can buy books.

Where to eat in Fontaine de Vaucluse

Fontaine de Vaucluse has a surprisingly large number of well-reviewed restaurants serving delicious food from the local region. I’ve now stayed in the town twice now and so have tried a smattering of the eateries available in the area.

Restaurant Philip

One of the most magical locations I’ve ever been fortunate to dine at in Provence is on an open-air terrace alongside the fast flowing River Sorgue in Fontaine de Vaucluse. Restaurant Philip has been in operation since 1926 and counts Winston Churchill among other famous clientele.

Be sure to reserve a table in advance because this location will allow you to sit right beside the river. We personally opted for the set menu and found it great value for money, particularly given that the staff were more than happy to adapt it for the vegan and vegetarian of the group. Address: Chem. de la Fontaine, 84800 Fontaine-de-Vaucluse.

La Figuiere Fontaine de Vaucluse

Another restaurant in Fontaine de Vaucluse that should be booked ahead of time and is located a little closer to the centre of town is La Figuiere Fontaine de Vaucluse. Set in a secret courtyard strung with fairy lights and lying in the shadow of a mountain, the restaurant serves up regional food and offers vegetarian options.

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Sophie Nadeau loves dogs, books, travel, pizza, and history. A Francophile at heart, she runs solosophie.com when she’s not chasing after the next sunset shot or consuming something sweet. She splits her time between Paris and London and travels as much as she can! Subscribe to Sophie’s YouTube Channel.

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