Fontaine des Chartreux, Natural spring in Cahors, France
Fontaine des Chartreux is a natural spring that emerges from limestone rock and directs water into a large basin near the Valentré Bridge. An electric pump system from 1926 continues to supply drinking water to residents through a maintained distribution network.
The site began as a shrine to the Celtic water goddess Divona in the first century BC before later coming under the care of Carthusian monks. By 1360 it took its current name, reflecting its new association with the monastic order.
The name references the Carthusian monks who settled here and relied on the water for daily monastic life. Visitors can observe the stone structures that reflect how essential this water source was to the religious community.
The site sits easily accessible near the famous Pont de Valentré, making it a natural stop during a walk through Cahors. Morning or late afternoon visits tend to offer fewer crowds along the water area.
Roman coins discovered around the basin in the 1980s show that visitors left offerings here across many centuries. These finds suggest the spring held sacred importance for a very long time.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
