Étang de la Bonde

The Etang de la Bonde is located between French municipalities Cabrières- d'Aigues and La Motte- d'Aigues in the department of Vaucluse. He has 30 hectares the largest water area of the Luberon Regional Park. Its water is fed from the stream Mirail, which rises at the foot of the Grand Luberon. The pond in the summer serves as a popular spa and resort.

The shore of the pond is occupied by poplars, willows and reeds and serves as Rückszugsgebiet for coots, moorhens, kingfishers, ducks and wagtails. In the vicinity are found typically Mediterranean Aleppo pine trees, strawberry trees, rosemary bushes and green oaks.

History

In the 15th century Fouquet d' Agoult, Baron possessed of La Tour- d'Aigues, lots of land in the area and planning for its irrigation to create a pond. The pond was fed by a canal, which the Baron had built especially for this purpose and also the villagers for irrigation of their land were used. The pond has played an important role for the development of agriculture in the Pays d' Aigues ever since.

On the edge of the pond, there was a simple mill that was the end of the 17th century moved further downstream.

Attractions

On the edge of the pond, the Château de la Bonde, a large farm and estate dating from the 19th century. In the vicinity there are many more wineries, such as the Château de Sannes.