Discover Althen-Des-Paluds

Althen-des-Paluds combines a history of madder cultivation with churches, bridges and waterways. This gives your stay a clear focus: historical architecture can be explored alongside the relationship between water management and the landscape. The Sorgue de Velleron is one of the waterways that encircle Althen-des-Paluds. Themed walks also offer points of interest for anyone interested in flowers and birds. The individual buildings date from different centuries; their dates help divide local history into several periods.

The history of madder cultivation

The Moulin des Gaffins was a factory that produced madder powder. It dates from 1882 and has been listed in the supplementary inventory of historic monuments since 2016. The mill is therefore a tangible point of reference for the local history of madder cultivation and processing.

A statue of Jean Althen stands in the town hall square and also commemorates madder cultivation. The mill and statue highlight different aspects: the mill represents powder production, while the statue commemorates the history of cultivation.

The town hall also brings together different historical layers. Since 1887, it has been housed in a former church dating from the 18th century; its bell tower is listed as a historic monument. Former religious use and its current function as a town hall come together in this building.

Churches, hamlets and bridges

The Church of Notre-Dame de l’Assomption shapes the townscape with a 35-metre-high bell tower, one of the tallest in the Vaucluse department. Construction of the larger church was completed in 1862. Its height and construction date offer two different ways to place the church in context: its striking scale within the department and its 19th-century construction history.

Saint-Albergaty is the oldest hamlet in Althen-des-Paluds. Its architecture combines Renaissance elements with 19th-century architecture in an unusual way. The Saint-Albergaty Bridge also dates from the Renaissance: it was built in 1589 and forms part of the plain’s irrigation system from that period. The bridge is both a structure and a link to water management in that era.

Two bridges date from different centuries: one from 1589 and the other from 1845. The Saint-Albergaty Bridge belongs to the plain’s Renaissance irrigation system; Pont Naquet was built over the Sorgue de Velleron in 1845. The statue of Jean Althen, the two churches and these bridges offer different ways to explore the town’s history, rather than focusing on just one era.

Waterways and themed walks

The Sorgue de Velleron is both one of the waterways that encircle Althen-des-Paluds and the landmark associated with Pont Naquet. Les Sorgues Vertes offers themed walks about flowers and birds along the banks of the Sorgues, by the canals or at the former Saint-Albergaty paper mill. The themes and locations give the walks a specific focus, whether you are more interested in plant life or birds.

People fish at Pont Naquet on the Sorgue de Velleron. This is a different way to enjoy the water than the themed walks: fishing is the main activity here, while the walks offered by Les Sorgues Vertes focus on flowers and birds. The Jardin de Montecarlo in Althen-des-Paluds is also a pleasant place for a walk.

A farmers’ market with local produce

At Pom Bio Berger in Althen-des-Paluds, visitors can meet farmers and discover apples, honey and cider at the “Eté à la ferme – Marché Pom Bio Berger” farmers’ market. The event adds a connection to local producers to the area’s historical and landscape themes. Event dates and product availability may change; check both before your visit.

When choosing where to stay, you can decide based on the focus of your trip: the history of madder and historic buildings, the waterways and walks, or the market and its local produce. Althen-des-Paluds brings these themes together at specific locations and buildings whose different periods can be clearly distinguished.

Discover more destinations: Blauvac, Vedène, Le Beaucet, Auribeau, Saint-Léger-Du-Ventoux, L’isle-Sur-La-Sorgue, Crillon-Le-Brave, Courthézon.

See the broader travel overview: Vaucluse.