Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, French commune in Vaucluse, France
Fontaine-de-Vaucluse is a commune in the Vaucluse region of southeastern France, built around a powerful underground spring that emerges from limestone cliffs. The water flows from hidden cave systems beneath the village and creates a river that powers the local landscape and defines the settlement's character.
Humans lived in this area from the Neolithic period onward, with Phoenician and Roman traders passing through the region. The village gained wider recognition in the 14th century when poet Petrarch settled here, bringing literary attention to the place.
The place takes its name from the spring and carries a deep connection to medieval literature through poet Petrarch's time here. Visitors walk through streets shaped by this literary past, with the poet's former home serving as a reminder of creative work done centuries ago.
The village is walkable and compact, with several museums spread throughout including displays about the spring itself and local history. Wear sturdy shoes since the pathways follow the water's edge and navigate through narrow old streets with uneven surfaces.
In 1946, explorer Jacques Cousteau nearly lost his life while diving into the spring's depths when his air compressor failed unexpectedly. This incident reveals how mysterious and hazardous the hidden underwater passages beneath the village still remain today.
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