Drought: a village in the South of France famous for its fountains has lost its water

Europe1 .fr with AFP 10:46 a.m., August 10, 2022

"You no longer hear this gentle lapping at every street corner": In Pernes-Les-Fontaines, a medieval town in the south-east of France renowned for its 41 fountains, the basins are empty but the tourists remain understanding in the face of a drought exceptional.

Two-thirds of mainland France were declared in a drought crisis situation this summer.

“The water restrictions began in April but we had so far kept the authorization to run water at a reduced flow in a few fountains. Since the end of July, it has been a complete stop, the prefecture has told us placed in a crisis situation for the drought", explains Guilhem Millet, head of the tourist office of this city of 9,000 inhabitants. 

An asset for the city

Nicknamed "The Pearl of the Comtat" for its glorious past as the capital of Comtat Venaissin, a former pontifical state in the Middle Ages, Pernes-les-Fontaines has 41 fountains inside its old ramparts.

Usually, this gives every street corner a bucolic and soothing atmosphere that attracts tourists.

Especially since public fountains are added as many private fountains in former mansions. 

READ ALSO

- Drought: faced with water restrictions, municipal officials remove flowers

"These fountains are clearly an asset for the city. But tourists, mostly French and European, are not surprised that they are no longer flowing this summer (...) given the drought that does not only affect France “, explains Guilhem Millet.

"These empty fountains are heartbreaking, but we completely understand these kinds of restrictions, everyone has to play the game", confirms Christine Mercel, a tourist from Ain who came with her husband and his daughter in Pernes precisely for its fountains.

"The level never so low"

It was in the 15th century that the first fountains in the village were built.

But it was in 1936 that the municipal council voted to change the name of the village from "Pernes" to "Pernes-Les-Fontaines".

There were 36 at the time.

Since then, the village has grown accustomed to water restrictions. 

"Every summer, we cut the fountains, fed by the running water pipes because of the drought. Usually, it lasts three or four days, a week at the most. There is always a storm, a rain to restore balance", explains the head of the tourist office. 

"What is special this year is the duration. Local meteorologists say that since the first rainfall records in the Vaucluse in 1871, the level has never been so low. It fell only 93 mm d water in the department since the beginning of the year when it would take 270 mm to have a correct level", he says.

"Tradition says that drinking the water from our fountains makes you fall in love. An anecdote that usually pushes tourists to use them", but this summer they are deprived of it.