The natural energy of the Sorgue's flowing waters was once the driving force behind the establishment of numerous industrial activities. L'Isle sur la Sorgue had up to sixty-six wheels installed on its canals.
As early as the 12th century, mills were used to grind wheat. In the following century, the cloth industry, with sheets called “blanquets”, manufactured in L'Isle sur la Sorgue and used to cover beds, then, at the end of the pontifical era, paper mills, then silk and madder in Le Thor (the Garancine wheel located next to the footbridge bears witness to this) attested to the vitality of these paddlewheels.
Today, there are 17 paddlewheels scattered along the many branches of the Sorgue.
Today, they serve a purely decorative function, offering an astonishing spectacle.
Each village has its own speciality: l'Isle sur la Sorgue specializes in silk spinning and dyeing, Le Thor in Garance and flour mills, and Fontaine de Vaucluse in paper mills.
To see...
contact@oti-islesurlasorgue.fr
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