When you imagine a bustling Provencal street market with stalls overflowing with fresh walnuts and olives, men in aprons slicing hunks from giant wheels of cheese, brightly colored produce spilling out of bins and baguettes leaving crusty crumbs on tables, you are probably imaging a snapshot from the markets at Isle Sur Sorgue.
Often called the antiques capital of France, Isle sur la Sorgue (which is also sometimes called the Venice of France), has the largest marche aux puces (flea market) outside of Paris in France and many antique and bric-abac dealers post up in this small, picturesque Provence town year round..
This compact medieval provencal town is built on the islands of five branches of the Sorgue River, whose source is a spring at Fontaine-de-Vaucluse. This lovely town is worth visiting on its own for its lovely Venice-like feel with bridges, canals and lots of water, but it is also home to a sprawling and great market that takes place on Sundays. Here you will find mostly local produce, meats and cheese, though there are vendors selling typical Provence inspired wares—tablecloths, antiques, soaps etc. As you cross the branches of the Sorgue River and shop in market stalls alongside giant moss covered water wheels, you’ll be glad you stopped in this little town.
>>Read more about Shopping in France’s Markets
Events in Isle Sur Sorgue
- Provençal market on Sunday and Thursday
- Bric-a-brac every Sunday
- Book Market the last Sunday of each month
- Antique fairs at Easter and on August 15
- Festival of the Sorgue in the month of July (music, theatre, exhibitions)
- Parade on the canals at the end of July
- Floating market the first Sunday of August
Market Days in Isle Sur Sorgue
Regular Market
During the summer months, when this region of Provence is bursting at the seams with tourists coming from around the world, the market is open daily. In the Fall/Winter/Spring months the market takes place on Thursday and Sunday mornings.
The daily summer market and bi-weekly fall/winter/spring market is where you will find lots of great local produce, including melons from nearby Cavaillon, barrel of olives, freshly bakes breads, huge wheels of cheese, meats and all the makings for a fabulous home cooked meal or great picnic.
Brocante
If you are a flea market fan (marche aux puces) or a broncante lover (the more widely used word for flea markets in Porvencal France), there is a large Brocante in Isle sur Sorgue on Saturdays and Sundays by the Gare (train station).
L’Isle sur la Sorgue is the chosen home of many antique and second-hand goods dealers. Each week-end, the market counts about 300 stalls, and more than 500 during the antique fairs at Easter and August 15, attracting an international clientele.
During these market days you will find a lot less in the food department, but a lot more choice in other wares. These are the markets where you’ll find tables full of antiques, vendors selling a mixture of junk and treasures (you just have to be patient and have a good eye to find the treasures), shoes, table cloths and almost everything else you could imagine.
Getting to Isle Sur Sorgue
Most people coming to enjoy the markets at Isle sur la Sorgue will be coming from another destination in Provence. If you are coming from outside of France, you will most likely have to get a flight to France coming into a nearby French airport (most likely Marseille or Avignon) and then take the train/bus/car to this small town from there. If you are traveling to southern France by rail, you can take the TGV from Paris to Avignon and then either take the bus or drive to Isle sur la Sorgue.
By Train and/or Bus
Isle sur Sorgue is located just 25 km from Avignon in between Cavaillon and Carpentras and is just 70 km from Marseille.
There is no direct train into Isle Sur Sorgue. However, those who want to come shop the markets here can easily get to Isle sur Sorgue without a car. There are a few different bus lines that connect Isle Aur Sorgue with nearby Avignon (which is also on a TGV line for those wishing to travel by high-speed train).
>>Read more about Train Travel in France
From Avignon:
Line 18 runs between Avignon and Isle sur Sorgue (via Morières, Chateauneuf-de-Gadagne, Le Thor)
Line 46 runs from Cavaillon to Isle sur la Sorgue with stops in Carpenteras, Pernes-les-Fontaines, Loriol-du-Comtat, Sarrian and Jonquieres.
By Car
From Avignon, take the N7 south towards Cavaillon and then take the D938 towards Isle sur la Sorgue.
Photos: Isle sur la Sorgue , cheese photo
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