Pernes-les-Fontaines is a village in Provence, not far from Avignon. It dates back to the Middle Ages, at a time when this part of France was under Papal rule. The village is thick with history and still wears its Medieval cloak prominently. To enter the town, one must cross a moat of sorts (the Nesque River, in fact, but a moat nature provided as a natural boundary), through stone gates, across a massive stone bridge.
Inside the domineering entrance to the village, things soften a bit. Pernes-les-Fontaines is known, aptly, for its many fountains. There are as many as 40 fountains here. They often date back to the 17th century, during a historic period when the village tried to distribute water to its inhabitants. This network of public fountains, drinking from the Nesque River, was a pragmatic decision that shaped the history of the place.
The tenor of this village feels distinctly different from the nearby villages of the Luberon valley. Those are often shaped by elevation and open views. This village is heavily guarded and turns inward, with the steady presence of water on stone keeping its rhythm.
