Category: Cities and villages

Situated in the department of Vaucluse , crossed by the Nesque, Pernes-les-Fontaines is classified among The most beautiful detours of France , thanks to its rich architectural heritage, traditional and human.
It is very well named because it has 40 public fountains and more than a hundred private fountains. Pernes was the capital of the Comtat Venaissin in the old days and bears the surname of “ Pearl of the Comtat ” at the present time. The village has grown steadily and today has more than 10,000 inhabitants and many historical monuments.
It is a small fortified medieval town with 22 sites listed or classified as Historic Monuments , 40 public fountains, 13 chapels, mills and curiosities, and 7 public gardens.

Touristic places

• Its ramparts include numerous doors such as the Notre Dame Gate dating from the 16th century or the Porte Neuve.
• The Rectangular Tower of the Clock (IMH), dungeon of the 12th century of the old castle of the counts of Toulouse with a clock and which offers a Nice point of view. The Ferrande Tower dating from the 13th century.
• The church N.D. of Nazareth of the eleventh century.
• The course of the 40 Fontaines.
• Quays of the Nesque.

Sporting activities

Carpentras-Pernes-les-Fontaines aerodrome. Moto-cross international. Fishing, hunting, horse riding, walking, horseback riding, mountain biking.

Site of Pernes les Fontaines

Touristic Office: City of Pernes les Fontaines

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Situated in the department of Vaucluse (84), on the plains of “Comtat Venaissin”, this former city of Fishermen nicknamed “Venise comtadine”, born from the waters of the Sorgue has now become a tourist high place in Provence thanks to the charm of its canals and has acquired an international notoriety with its trade of antiquities.

The paddle wheels that once functioned for craftsmanship still subsist and give its picturesque side to the city and its canals.

The city also has a rich architectural heritage, such as the wheat loft which houses the Tourist Office (in the city center), the hospital with its vestibule, its chapel, its pharmacy and its garden decorated with a splendid fountain , And, among other private hotels, the hotel “Donadeï de Campredon” which houses the Maison René-Char.

Touristic places :

• The Collegiate Church of Our Lady of the Angels, one of the most beautiful baroque churches in Provence.
• The division of waters: Places or the Sorgue divides into two and forms a large body of water.
• The chapel Saint-Andéol of Velorgues, XIe / XIIe century, entirely Romanesque.
• Museum of the doll and the old toy, Museum of the school of old and House René Char.

Animations :

• Festival of Sorgue in July
• Nautical corso at the end of July
• Market on the Sorgue the first Sunday of August
• Horse races in August
• Flea markets (Easter and August)

Site of l’Isle sur la Sorgue:

• tourist Office: Town of Isle sur la Sorgue

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The city is located in the department of Vaucluse of which it is the Sub-Prefecture . At an altitude of 102 m and extending over an area of 3 791 hectares, Carpentras has no less than 28 000 inhabitants. Capitale du Comtat Venaissin, located at the foot of the Mont Ventoux and Dentelles de Montmirail, Carpentras has always been a city Art and Culture, both modern and still imbued with its history.

The city has many monuments with remarkable architecture and we can discover all its terroir on its traditional markets.

The monuments

• The country of Carpentras and Comtat Venaissin is classified Country of Art and History.
• The Cathedral of Saint-Siffrein.
• La Charité.
• La Porte d’Orange.
• The fair of the Saint Siffrein (27 November).
• L’Hôtel-Dieu.
• The summer of Carpentras.
• Classified municipal library

The markets

• Friday Market
• Organic Market
• The big commercial sale
• Le Troc de Printemps
• Apér’Estivales, Night market of the art of wine
• Sunday afternoon antiques
• The St-Siffrein Fair

Site of Carpentras:

• tourist Office: City of Carpentras

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Fontaine de Vaucluse is located 17 kilometers of Pernes les fontaines. You can go there by bike (VTT or VTC) along the canal of Carpentras. If you are sporty if not from Pernes, follow the itinerary L’isle sur la Sorgue Then Fontaines de Vaucluse by the D25.

This picturesque site lies in a deep valley with a landscape dotted with caves and valleys.

The main visit in the village is at the bottom of a deep natural gorge, at the foot of an enormous cliff. You can discover the source of Fontaine de Vaucluse.

The spring is located at 80 meters above sea level, it springs at the foot of a steep cliff of 230 meters in the hollow of a valley clause “Vallis clausa” in Latin which gave its name to the department of Vaucluse. The source is the emergence of an immense underground network. It is the first in France with an annual flow rate of 630 million cubic meters per year. It’s  particularly spectacular in spring and autumn in periods of flood with a flow of 90 m3 per second. Secondary springs feed the river and form a very beautiful body of water shaded by immense plane trees. One reaches the abyss (one of the deepest of the world) by a tourist route which goes up along the river.

Visits possible in the village of Fontaine de Vaucluse

• The free “Moulin à papier” and its gallery where you have the opportunity to buy your craft paper on the path that leads to the source.
• The ruins of the old Castle of the Bishops of Cavaillon  which still overlook Fontaine de Vaucluse.

Largest city Vaucluse at the confluence of the Rhône And the Durance. It is thus bordering the departments of Gard and the Bouches-du-Rhône. Avignon is already an important city in the 12th century, thanks in particular to the Pont d’Avignon which allows the crossing of the Rhone. With the arrival of the Popes in the 14th century, the city became a second Rome.

The Rhône has always played an important role in the life of the city. Although it is an invaluable treasure for the economy of the city due to the importance of freight and pleasure traffic, it also plays an important part in the leisure activities of avignon. The arts are undergoing considerable development. Avignon remained a pontifical land until the Revolution. Then the city will grow out of its ramparts.

Avignon is listed as a City of Art and History. The city is surrounded by ramparts and its old houses have a lot of charm. The bridge of Avignon is another emblem of the city. The Palais des Papes of the 14th century and the Saint-Bénezet bridge (the famous bridge of Avignon) of the seventh century, Humanity by UNESCO.

The museums of Avignon :

Lambert Collection, Jean Vilar House, Angladon Museum, Calvet Museum, Musée de l’Oeuvre, Musee du Mont-de-Piété, Musée du Petit Palais, Musée lapidaire, Musée Louis-Vouland, Musee Requien, Palais du Roure.

Festival of Avignon and other events :

Avignon hosts throughout the year various events such as the Provençal Festival, theater and music in the Provençal language, Avignon-Jazz Festival, Artisans’ Market but the best known is its theater festival.

• The Festival d’Avignon, founded in 1947 by Jean Vilar, takes place every summer during the month of July in the city of Avignon. This is undoubtedly the most important manifestation of theatrical art and live performance in France by the number of creations and spectators, and one of the oldest decentralized artistic manifestations.
• The Festival Off: Independently of the Festival In Festival, and at the initiative of the New Company founded by André Benedetto, hundreds of other shows are held – More than 539 troops registered in 2004 to give 667 shows without Count street shows, etc…

Site of the city :

• tourist Office