L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue

Summer’s day or winter time, L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is charming and sprightly.

Summer

Market day

Throughout the year the traditional Provençal market is in full swing. Vendors sell local produce, linen and souvenirs alongside France’s most famous antique market. My home, as many in this region, is already full of trinkets from L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue so we head to the centre (close to the Collégiale Notre-Dame des Anges church) to pick up some bits for a pick-nick.

Along the refreshing water’s edge of the ‘Venice of Provence’, feet are dangled and ice-creams are licked but it’s too crowded for us; so we head up to the gardens behind the old mossy waterwheel

Old mossy water wheel, L'Ilse-sur-la-Sorgue

Old mossy water wheel, L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue

(once used for burgeoning silk and aiding the paper industry) to feast on olives, saucisson, juicy tomatoes and a baguette.

The arty visitors take to the Donadéi de Campredon Museum and the art dealers before feasting on crayfish in one of the many restaurants along the River Sorgue. This is one of the clearest rivers I know! You can see straight through to the tassels of pure green algae below. But watch out if you get in – it has just been delivered from an extremely fresh source!

Winter

Christmas market, L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue

We return to L’Ilse-sur-la-Sorgue in the winter for the Christmas market to stock up on specialist produce. But first we head to a rather extraordinary restaurant where the ceilings are vaulted and the Sorgue trickles beneath us through a troglodyte waterway.

Vaulted restaurant above the Sorgue

A quick potter around the shops and we find ourselves warming up with roasted chestnuts and mulled wine whilst the children play on the merry-go-round.

L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue Checklist:

Pick up local produce off the Thursday and Sunday morning Provençal markets
Go hiking in the shade of the elm trees
Try cycling along the river or in the hills
Take to the river in a canoe. The translucent water is exceptionally refreshing!
Climb or cycle up Mont Ventoux -often featuring in the Tour de France
Visit La Fontaine-de-Vauclause
Shop for antiques on one of France’s most famous flea markets.
There are some incredibly stunning properties to rent around L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue from family rentals to wedding venues!