- Today we did a wandering trip to areas outside of Avignon in the countryside in the Luberon Valley
L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
This town sits on the river Sorgue. Originally known as a fishing village and home of weaving mills powered by water wheels. Now it houses hundreds of antiques dealers and the Notre-Dame-des-Anges Church.
PARLAIS MEOW?
The river is sparkling clean and clear as it is fed by the natural spring the Fountaine-de-Vancluse, which we visited later in the day
Gordes
Second on our list was the beautiful medieval hilltop village of Gordes. Hilary did some first class driving up the narrow roads to our destination.
We made it in time for the market and to buy fresh vegetables and a few other must have items.
Village de Bories
Historians believe that this village was originally constructed during the Bronze Age. Constructed of local and very available slivered limestone (all rocks only, no mortar) these behived shaped Bories (stone huts) were built and inhabited by shepherds and by all indications used until 1839.
Fountaine-de-Vaucluse
This is the origin of the River Sorgue. It is the largest spring in France and the 5th largest on the planet. For years the spring has been said to be bottomless. Jacques Cousteau attempted to bottom, but an unmanned submarine finally touched what is believed to be bottom at a approximately 1035 feet.
The water is remarkably crystal and almost emerald in color. We walked all the way to the mouth of the spring and got as close as we could.
We also visited a paper mill here still produces handmade paper using 15th Century methods.
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