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Pernes-les-Fontaines is a lovely medieval fortified town. The remaining fortifications include defensive walls dating back to the 16th century, and several defensive "portes" dating to the 16th and 14th centuries. The Tour Ferrande is a 13th-century donjon tower with frescos. The old castle of the Counts of Toulouse, with its 13th-century donjon, 1484 clock and 1764 campanile, is one of the oldest in the "Comptat".
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Nearby: |
Apt 43 km |
Avignon 24 km |
Carpentras 6 km |
Cavaillon 19 km |
Fontaine-de-Vaucluse 17 km |
Isle-sur-la-Sorgue 11 km |
Saumane-de-Vaucluse 17 km |
Thor 9 km |
Vaison-la-Romaine 34 km |
Venasque 10 km |
Hotels near Pernes-les-Fontaines: |
Pernes-les-Fontaines |
6 km Carpentras |
9 km Thor |
10 km Venasque |
11 km Isle-sur-la-Sorgue |
17 km Fontaine-de-Vaucluse |
19 km Cavaillon |
The photos are all kindly contributed by Jan Volkers.
"The object is a bridge over the Nesque, just outside one of the gates. There is a little chapel on top of the bridge (like pont Benezet in Avignon) . I believe it is on the north side of the village."
Pernes-les-Fontaines is fairly large and, as the name implies, there are a fair number of fountains to be seen. There are 32 18th-century fountains, and several of them are declared French historical monuments. We found a couple of the large, moss-covered variety, including one at an ancient arched entrance into the walled center. Being a parking spot for the locals unfortunately distracts from the beauty (an all too typical occurence).
In spite of seeing a few nice things, we weren't too taken with this place. The main road through town seemed very noisy, and we didn't find a nice terrace café where we could relax. The Office de Tourisme didn't have any historical information to offer, except two booklets, at 3.50 and 7.50 euros. It could just be a question of timing and mood, so give it a try.
There were some small museums listed in the town, and the little Dress Museum looked very charming.
The Nesque river runs through the town. The river is channeled well, and much of the wider river bed has been made into a pleasant park area.
This is a great farming area, and Pernes has excellent grapes, for eating and for wine. One of the wines is the only bubbly wine produced in the Vaucluse. Orchards produce apple, cherry, pear and almonds, and other crops include strawberry, cantalope and vegetables, and the region's largest asparagus market is located here.
In and around Pernes are several 16th-18th-century chapels.
History
Name
First record, 994 Paternis
Medieval:
A castle was built here in the 10th century by the Counts of Toulouse, who ruled a fief named "Senescallia Venaissini". In 1274, the domain fell under the rule of Saint-Siège, and Pernes became the capital of the Comtat Venaissin, until 1320 when the capital was transferred to Carpentras. During the 15th and 16th centuries, rule of Pernes changed several times between Saint-Siège and several other lords.
Office de Tourisme
Tel : 04 90 61 31 04; Fax: 04 90 61 33 23
Email: ot.pernes@wanadoo.fr
Dates
Market (Marché) Every Sat
Every Wed - Puces (flea market)
Fête Traditionelle: 25 Apr; last week Aug
La Camarette Domaine - Domaine de La Camarette
Nancy Gontier
Location:
Route de Mazan, 439 Chemin des Brunettes
Tel: 0490 616 078
Web: www.domaine-camarette.com
Olive oil available.
Transportation Pernes-les-Fontaines
Bus
Department 84, Vaucluse Buses
See Beyond's Bus Schedules Page 2: Vaucluse Department for downloading Vaucluse bus-lines map [Plan global des lignes] and bus-line schedules [pdf for each line] (link for PDF files).
• Avignon has train or bus connections to Aix-en-Provence, Arles, Nîmes, Saint Remy-de-Provence, Paris.
• Cavaillon has bus connections to Aix-en-Provence, Arles, Saint Remy-de-Provence.
• Pertuis has bus connections to Aix-en-Provence and Marseille.
Bus
Service to Carpentras, Le Thor, Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Cavaillon, Marseille.
• Bus-11 schedules
Sports
Camping
Cycling
Cycling
Cycles Prat
Rental and Repair
Location:
94, avenue Croix-Couverte
Tel: 0490 613 007
Fetiveau, Hervé
Rental and Repair
Location:
284, rue ƒmile-Zola
Tel: 0490 613 737
VTT Styl
Location:
av Font de Luna
Tel: 0490 616 747
Hiking
Maps:
IGN (1/25,000) #3141 ouest "Carpentras"
Didier Richard (1/50,000) #27 "Ventoux"
Pernes-les-Fontaines is in a forested and agricultural area. Immediately to the east is the Plateau de Vaucluse where there are many great hiking trails.
There are no loop hikes from the village, but one trail, 3 km east, goes southeast, past a Gîte, onto the Plateau de Vaucluse, joining the GR 91 just north of Fontaine-de-Vaucluse.
Lodging - Hotels
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Photo gallery of 2 photos for Pernes-les-Fontaines