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English A legendary water
For centuries, the Ventadour spring has been surrounded by legend. It is said that in the 12th century, a troubadour offered this water to his lord and to knights returning exhausted and ill from battlefields. Little by little, the water restored their strength and vitality. Since then, Ventadour has been celebrated for its virtues, an enduring symbol of purity whose history continues to nourish the myth.
Millennia
of thermal origins
Ventadour is a water from Ardèche, drawn from a territory recognized for the purity and quality of its natural resources. At the source, Ventadour is naturally sparkling. It is captured in the commune of Meyras, at the heart of a region shaped by a long‑standing thermal tradition. As early as Roman antiquity, thermal baths are believed to have been built in nearby valleys, where visitors sought relief for rheumatism. This thermal legacy underscores the age‑old bond between water and this land.
The birth of
Ventadour in 1868
In the 19th century, residents of surrounding hamlets and villages nicknamed the Sources du Pestrin “los bouonos founs” (the good fountains). They came to soothe intestinal discomfort and stomach pains. One of Aubenas’ most respected physicians, Dr. Embry, presented the Sources du Pestrin as the finest waters in the region. In 1868, after many years of work, official authorization to operate the Sources du Pestrin was finally granted. Four springs were identified: Pauline, Julie, Ventadour, and Fortifiante. Ventadour was approved by the French Academy of Medicine for its digestive properties.
A water naturally recognized
Within a few years, Ventadour experienced exceptional growth. It accompanied regional cuisine as well as the most refined dishes on tables in Geneva, Brussels, and Alexandria. Its medicinal virtues continued to be cited in numerous publications. It was notably specified that the Pestrin waters would be particularly suited to “illnesses resulting from an impoverishment of the blood.” Healthy and pure, the Sources du Pestrin became a benchmark for their natural character.
The modern era,
the contribution of Paul Ricard
In 1951, Paul Ricard structured the Ventadour operation by developing the Société du Pestrin company. Under his leadership, Ventadour gained visibility and became “one of the favorite sparkling mineral waters of Provence.” In the early 1980s, it was distributed by major retailers eager to diversify their water selections.
In 2018, Ventadour entered the International “Gourmet” Mineral Water Competition in Paris, among 50 waters from 20 countries. It earned the Bronze Medal in the “light sparkling waters” category. Despite this international recognition, operations were suspended for economic reasons.
2026, the great return
of Ventadour
Ventadour’s story turns a new page when entrepreneur Michel Besnier discovers the spring and its heritage. In the spirit of Paul Ricard before him, he chooses to devote the resources, time, and standards required to restore and elevate this natural mineral water. Everything is re‑imagined without ever touching what is essential: the purity of the water, its history, and its Ardèche identity.
Hydrogeologists, engineers, and technicians are mobilized to modernize the site, meet the most demanding sanitary standards, and build a more responsible model. True to its heritage, Ventadour takes a clear stand for zero plastic by relaunching returnable glass, a bold, historic, and deliberate choice that makes it the only regional water to champion this commitment today.
One conviction guides every decision: Ventadour is a water that is safe, uncompromising, and transparent. A water with nothing to hide.