Sunday morning and it’s market day in L’Isle sur la Sorgue, and you will soon see why so many people travel here !
Isle sur la Sorgue is situated 30 minutes to the east of Avignon (Provence), just at the entrance to the Luberon Valley. It is essentially, as its name suggests, an island on the Sorgue River. This village is two towns; one on the market day of Thursday or Sunday, and the other on a non-market day. I love the calmness of the place when it is empty of armies of happy travellers, but also love the craziness of the scrum of people visiting it for the market days.
People flock to the Isle sur la Sorgue market.
Isle sur la Sorgue has developed quite a reputation for its Sunday market especially over the years but has experienced a rapid creeping urban sprawl in the suburbs that are best avoided, but head to the centre of the town and its utterly charming like most other Provence villages.
The Sunday market is what Isle sur la Sorgue has become famous for around the world. The food market operates all morning through until lunch time, whereas the bric à brac and antiques are open all day. As Peter Mayle said about it “the only thing you can’t get in l’Isle sur la Sorgue is a bargain”. I love pottering here, and in each of the last three years I have found and bought some very good art, which I have then had re-framed and cleaned, and could have sold many times over!! See if you can find your own treasure!
If you come here, make a day of it. Start at the market where you will find an unlimited supply of useful and not so useful stuff, and then treat yourself to lunch. For the best post market lunches I warmly recommend you to head to either the Le Jardin du Quai, located near the train platform (set menu), or to Le Vivier (on the road heading out to Carpentras) where you will be treated royally with their Michelin star reputation. What a lovely way to spend a Sunday!!
Even if you are not in the market for food, bric à brac or antiques, the images you see will enchant you!
Most things will fit in your suitcase!!
There's something to cater for anyone's interest.
Retail works at a different pace here!!
Even if you don't buy anything it's fun looking (and taking photos!)
Ca c'est le look?
Why does everything always seem to look so beautiful!!
Access:
If you do not have a car, there are buses that go here from Avignon train station, but if you are staying in places such as St Remy de Provence, then I’d suggest taking a taxi and making a day of it.
Parking is always an issue, but if you get here before ten o’clock you should find a park somewhere!
darn, i *really* wanted to try to make it here when I was in Provence last!! Next time!!!
Don’t worry there is always another day!! Thanks!
I could get lost in the books and the bric a brac. I must, must, must visit France more often. Next summer.
Thoroughly enjoyed another fabulous sunny day, on our Provence Tour with ” John ” and our fellow travellers in 2008, experiencing the market town, the music, scenery, the people, and the fabulous lunch at “Le Vivier” of Fish – Just been looking at our photos again !!! Wonderful memories.
Fans of the French Way Travel.
Markets anywhere are just the most fun. We’ll look this out when we get across John!
these pics are so nice i really love french blogs.
The markets are one of the things I want to experience when I make it to this region! I too love markets where ever I am.
Hi John
It is so lovely reading your blogs. I will never get to forget all the wonderful sights, tastes, shopping, history etc Colin and I shared with you in September. The market on Isle sur la Sorgue was unmissable. You are helping to keep our wonderful memories alive and lasting.
Bronwen
Bronwen, thanks for your comment!! The great thing about your memory, is that it is the fastest form of travel!!!
It does sound like a lovely way to spend a Sunday. Love the photo of the people at the table with the bottle of wine. — enjoying themselves, I’d say.
Cathy, thanks for your comment. When walking around the antiques market it is common to see the “retailers” sitting around drinking wine or eating their lunches on the tables etc that they are selling! Bliss!!
Hi John,
Looks like a great place to spend a day. Grabbing a set lunch at Le Jardin du Quai sounds good too. My kind of place.
I love these things – there’s a similar one in Jerez every Sunday. Everything from pricey antiques to VHS cassettes!
Robin, what are VHS cassettes??!!!
I love exploring markets like this! Food markets are great, but mostly I enjoy wandering amongst antiques and old books and strange contraptions. I can’t buy anything now (no more room in my backpack!), but it’s still fun to look.
Oh what a wonderful way to spend the day! And not a mosquito, snake or crocodile in sight!!
I could spend hours browsing and chatting, well maybe pausing for a pastis every so often!
We actually have one of these right up the street from our house in LA every sunday. Jade loves to find old cameras and globes or old postcards from all over the world. it’s crazy what you can find!
Looks like you can get some pretty awesome antiques there!
Reminds me a bit of the San Telmo market in Buenos Aires, with lots and lots of cool looking antiques. And with the food – it looks like a great day!
So much to take in at these markets & I wish I had also checked out the antiques across the road. The lunch was memorable especially how fast the staff had to go to keep up with all the orders. Lots of lovely memories of this day and all the others on our trip
John, Is the Sunday market open all year around or at least in November? We will be staying in Isle sur la Sorgue during the month of November, and I wondered about the market. Merci!
Thanks Geraldine for your comment. Yes the market in Isle sur la Sorgue will be open every Sunday! In November the market is so much more manageable compared to the middle of summer. As for the weather you will still get lovely days but the evenings will be getting much cooler, and if you had an open fire you’d want to snuggle up to that in the evening!!
Oh, this is FABULOUS. We are heading to Isle sur la Sorgue soon and I just can’t wait. Now I know to make sure we are there for market day. Yum-yum-yum-yum-YUM!!!
I’m so jealous of you Barbara. Sadly I don’t think our paths will cross, unless you decide you love the place so much, and you’re still there in the summer!! Bonne route!
This is now on my list of places to visit. Merci!
We spent a lovely time at the market on Thursday, 24/5. It was so worth the trip up from Avignon where we were staying to celebrate our third anniversary. As always, there’s something you wish you’d bought while you were out and I deeply regret not having secured one of the amazing cork handbags and one of the beautiful quilts. Is it possible to put me in touch with the owners of these stalls, please?
Kind regards
Lyn Crowhurst
Hi there,
do you have any restaurant recommendations for Isle sur la Sorgue?
Travelling there in September, and trying to find some foodie haunts
Thanks for your comment. Well for me, I love going to Le Jardin du Quai for lunch. It is a set menu and set in the most exquisite garden. You will adore everything about the place. To find the place look for the signs for GARE SNCF, and just within 50m you will find the restaurant. Bon appetit!
Lovely post and images…
Didn’t Keith Floyd have his restaurant there way back when. Before all the fame?
cheers