L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue: antiques, Sunday market and day trips

L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is a small town wrapped in the clear, green arms of the Sorgue river, with moss-covered water wheels and plane trees along the quays. It is known far beyond France for one thing: antiques. Around 300 dealers work here all year round, and twice a year the town becomes one of the biggest antiques fairs in Europe.

We live and host guests here, so this is the guide we give our own guests: when to come for the markets, how to make the most of the antique dealers, and the best trips within 50 minutes.

The Sunday market

Every Sunday morning, from about 8 am to 1 pm, the market fills the quays and streets of the centre: fruit and vegetables from the Vaucluse, goat's cheese, olives, lavender honey, soaps and Provençal fabrics, alongside the antique and second-hand stalls. It is one of the most beautiful markets in Provence, and the busiest.

A smaller food market takes place on Thursday morning, quieter and more local.

Antiques: dealers, antique villages and the two big fairs

The antique shops and antique villages (several dealers under one roof) are mostly open from Saturday to Monday, all year round. Expect Provençal furniture in walnut and oak, faience, old linen and quilts, garden stonework, industrial pieces and 1950s to 1970s design.

Twice a year, at Easter and around 15 August, the international antiques and flea market fair brings together about 800 exhibitors. These are the two big dates for collectors; accommodation in town is booked months in advance.

How to buy well

• Walk around once before buying, and compare.
• Politely asking for the best price is normal; a discount of 10 to 15% is common.
• Many dealers ship large pieces abroad: ask for a quote before you pay.
• Late on Sunday afternoon, sellers are more willing to negotiate.

Market days around L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue

Staying a week? There is a Provençal market somewhere nearby almost every day:

• Monday: Cavaillon (melons in summer)
• Tuesday: Gordes
• Thursday: L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue (smaller market)
• Friday: Lourmarin and Bonnieux; Carpentras, with its truffle market from November to March
• Saturday: Apt, one of the biggest markets in the Luberon
• Sunday: L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, the most beautiful of all

The best day trips from L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue

• Fontaine-de-Vaucluse (10 min): the source of the Sorgue at the foot of a 230 m cliff, an easy shaded walk along emerald water, and a traditional paper mill.
• Canoeing on the Sorgue: about 8 km from Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, around two hours, in water that stays at 13 °C all year. A summer favourite with children.
• Gordes (17 min) and Sénanque Abbey (25 min), surrounded by lavender from late June to mid-July.
• Roussillon (35 min) and its ochre trail, about 45 minutes on foot among red and yellow cliffs.
• Ménerbes, Bonnieux and Lourmarin (25 to 50 min): the Luberon villages, perfect as a one-day loop.
• Avignon (30 min): the Palais des Papes, the famous bridge, the ramparts, and the theatre festival in July.

Where to stay

Villa Oasis de Satteva and Villa Nirvana are 5 minutes by car from the centre of L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, at the end of a quiet private lane. Each sleeps 8, with 4 air-conditioned bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a fully equipped kitchen for your market finds and a private pool heated to 27 °C minimum from April to the end of October. Rent one villa for 8 guests or both for 16.