Fontaine-de-Vaucluse Attractions

The little village of Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, well known for its spring (the source of the River Sorgue) and for the Italian poet and humanist Petrarch, lies in the west of Provence about 30km/19mi east of Avignon.

The village, although often thronged with tourists, is charmingly situated at the end of the valley. The surrounding hollow (vallis clausa has given the place its name. Fontaine-de-Vaucluse can be reached on a by-road; there are extensive parking places near the village center.

Fontaine-de-Vaucluse was made famous by the Italian poet and humanist Francesco Petrarca (Petrarch; 1304-74); he was born in Arezzo in Italy but took up residence in the former Papal town of Avignon and later withdrew to his country seat in the Vaucluse where he devoted himself entirely to his literary pursuits.