Aiguebrun is the only permanent river in the Luberon mountains. The source is at Fondons near the village of Auribeau on the norhern side of Grand Luberon and runs mainly west at first where it has caved out the impressive Buoux canyon. At la Tour, just after Buoux, the river turns south and runs down the Combe de Bonnieux and the Combe de Lourmarin, effectively splitting Petite and Grand Luberon. This is the old strategic route between Aix-en-Provence and Apt. After passing the village of Laurmarin, Aiguebrun continues south and joins the large Durance river near Iscles Marquises after having been used for agricultural irrigation along its rout.
The water and the enclosed humidity in the Buoux Canyon creates a vegitation exuberant and the valley has a very rich floura. In particular, here grows plants from temperate and cold regions, e.g. scolopendrium, calf’s foot and willow. The river is bordered by oak trees, in places enormous, and by trees that like the humidity and the freshness: poplar, maple, willow, lime, etc. The river is also appreciated by local anglers for it's trauts and crayfish, although the latter is protected.
“Je traversai le ruisseau (l’Aiguebrun) en trois bonds. Il n’y coulait que quelques filets d’eau qui cependant donnaient de la fraicheur á cette grotte de verdure et de rochers. J’y pénétrai et allai dans le fond m’asseoir un banc naturel de pierre.”
From Henri Bosco’s Le sanglier
