On the fountain hunt in Pernes-la-Fontaines

Tags

fountains, L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, market, Paris, Pernes-les-Fontaines, water

What the waterwheels are to L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, so can be said for the fountains of nearby village Pernes-les-Fontaines.

On Tuesday we went on a mission to track the fountains of the village, which are integral to the life of Pernes. The fountain fixation began here with the discovery of the St Roch spring providing water to every neighborhood. To commemorate this event four fountains were built: la Fontaine du Cormoran, la Fountain du Gigot, la Fontaine Reboul and la Fontaine de l’Hôpital.

This is certainly the place to go for fountain fanatics. There are now 40 public fountains, mostly dating from the 18th century, and around 60 others hidden in the numerous courtyards and gardens of private mansions. We collect a map of the village which has walks outlined so the visitor can follow the fountain trail.

   

Du Quai de Verdun fountain

 

Some are massive and flamboyant, others discrete, water flows from some and not from others.
 
        

Faces of the fountains

 
As we walk the trail searching for fountains we also see some of the heritage and and other points of interest of Pernes-les-Fontaines including the clock tower, the 17th century covered marketplace, townhouses from the 17th and 18th centuries, and the Notre Dame gateway. 

  
 

The most famous fountains are the Gigot,  named after the piece at the top which is shaped like a meaning leg of lamb, and the Cormoran next to the covered market named after the majestic bird spreading its wings at the top. 

There is also La Grand Font soaring four meters high and the Fontaine de la Lune whose waters, it is said, turn those who drink them into lunatics.

 

The magnificent Cormoran fountain

  
  

The war memorial, in a square near the local school where the children are running around playing at lunchtime, has a magnificent sculpture and also bears witness to the recent tragic events in Paris.
  

Arriving at Porte Notre-Dame, a 16th century gate which was damaged during the French Revolution, we see the 17th century market place of La Halle Couverte which also serves as a meeting place for the bourgeoisie at night. Across from the marketplace is the 11th century Eglise Notre-Dame de Nazareth.

   

The old marketplace -La Halle Couverte

  

The city walls

 

As we head back along the canal to our car we see that Du Quai de Verdun fountain is being put to good use by one man from a nearby campervan happily washing up his luncheon dishes in it.