A getaway in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
The Sunday market along the Sorgue
The Sunday market follows the curve of the quays and reaches into the old town of L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, as far as the square by the Notre-Dame-des-Anges church.
The market circles the old town
L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue takes its name from the branches of the river that surround its old quarter: on Sunday mornings, the stalls of the Provençal market line the Quai Jean-Jaurès and the Quai Rouget-de-l’Isle, which each border part of this perimeter.
Trade here is old: as early as the 12th century, a market already stood around the Saint-Gervais priory, then owned by the Saint-André abbey in Villeneuve-lès-Avignon. In 1512, a papal bull from Julius II fixed a Saturday market day; in 1596, Cardinal Octave d’Acquaviva added a Thursday market by decree, then devoted to livestock, poultry and vegetables.
The market runs on Thursday and Sunday mornings, from 7am to 1pm, but the Sunday gathering is the largest, drawing around 230 traders in summer who spread their stalls into the heart of town. As the morning wears on, the aisles narrow in front of the busiest stands. White awnings filter the sun to protect the produce, passers-by slow down, and the view closes in on a succession of baskets, racks and crates of fruit.
Fruit, flowers and baskets along the stalls
Fresh produce takes centre stage. The Pays des Sorgues, along with the plains of the Comtat and the Durance, are known for the quality of their fruit and vegetables. Hand-written chalkboards and open crates form broad blocks of colour beneath the awnings. Cheese, charcuterie and olives extend this food section of the market.
Within a few steps, seasonal produce gives way to flowers, basketware, fabric and clothing. In front of the flower stands, the crowd slows for a moment of choosing or bargaining with the seller, then moves on into the next aisle.
From the water’s edge to the church square
Past the quays, the market narrows the streets of the centre, its stalls reducing their usual width. Above the awnings, familiar landmarks reappear in fragments: a stone gateway shows behind an awning, a façade closes off the end of a street, and plane trees signal an approaching square.
The street opens onto Place de la Liberté, where the Notre-Dame-des-Anges collegiate church stands. Here the market spreads out before continuing into the surrounding streets, clothing, fabric and colourful goods filling the foot of the façades.
The Sorgue reappears among the stalls
Beyond the square, the walker turns through the streets of the old town before finding the water again: a canal, then the quays that close the loop, running once more alongside the Sorgue. Here and there, a bridge or a gap in the trees opens a view onto the current, which accompanies the market from start to finish, visible at intervals between the first quays and the last.
Continuing the getaway along the Sorgue
Leaving the busiest aisles and the bustle of the market behind, the walk can continue along the canals. The wheels preserved in the town still turn under the push of the current: their story tells of L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue’s manufacturing past.
Upstream, the Sorgue leads to Fontaine-de-Vaucluse and the ruins of the Bishops’ Castle. The market thus becomes the start of a day devoted to the river and the villages it feeds.
Visitor information
Visiting the market in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
- Sunday market
- The Provençal market is held year-round on Sundays from 7am to 1pm, along the quays and in the town centre, except on 1 January and 25 December.
- Thursday market
- A smaller market also takes place in the town centre on Thursday mornings, from 7am to 1pm.
- Crowds
- The Sunday market is especially busy in summer, particularly from 10am onwards. Arriving earlier allows for a freer walk along the quays.
Opening times may change. Check the Provençal market page from the tourist office before your visit.
Our selection
Bed and breakfasts around L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
The portal favours direct links to owners’ websites. You can contact the guest house to book your stay in the Pays des Sorgues.