In this case the "fountain" refers to the large spring at Vaucluse, where about 700 million cubic metres per anum of water springs from the ground, making it the fifth largest spring of its type (karst) in the world. The water emerges at the foot of high cliffs and leaves as the clear, fast-flowing Sorgue River. There is a little town around the river with cafes and tourist shops.
 |
| An old water wheel - purely decorative. |
 |
| Some of numerous weirs and debris traps. |
 |
| Cafes and hotels alongside the river. |
 |
| Walking up toward the source, at the foot of those cliffs. |
 |
| There is an impressive amount of water coming from the spring. |
 |
| The huge plane trees along the river. |
There was a second old water wheel, no longer turning, which once powered a paper mill here. The path up to the source became rougher as we progressed and was punctuated by signs and barriers warning against going further due to the danger of rock falls. The sheer cliffs above look very high (the internet says 230 metres) and seem to loom over you. Those cliffs and the narrow valley made it seem almost like an alpine village.
