LA FOSSE DIONNE
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The most emblematic site of the city of Tonnerre, a Vauclusian fountain surrounded by stones of the 17th century.
By visiting the Fosse Dionne (classified as a Historic Monument since 1920), you will discover there the most emblematic site of the city of Tonnerre. Known since prehistoric times but always remained mysterious, this 17th century stone-circled Vauclusian fountain remains the source of many legends. Its incredible intense blue colour, as well as its long unfathomable depth, has often led the inhabitants of Tonnerre to believe that its creation was of celestial or diabolical origin. It has been said, for example, that the basin was bottomless and that it led to Hell. Or that the Basilisk (a reptile with a petrifying gaze) would have stayed there until the courageous Bishop St. John of Rome chased him out. In 1758, around the basin the wash-house was built by Louis d'Eon, son of the famous Chevalier d'Eon; it is still clearly visible. Although we still do not know its source, we now know that this pit (among the most difficult to exploit in France) is fed by the rainwater absorbed by the surrounding Jurassic plateaus before it reaches the Armançon. On site, one can see the start of a 2.50 metre high gallery which stops at a depth of 28 metres, and continues to 360 metres from the entrance, i.e. at a depth of 61 metres. Despite the few dramas that have marked its history, the enigmatic Fosse Dionne is still being explored today. Since 2018, professional diver Pierre-Eric Desseigne has been trying to unravel all its mysteries.
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