"Venice in Provence!" L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue by JLBG

L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue Travel Guide: 20 reviews and 55 photos

L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgues, the promenade - L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue

L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgues, not to be mistaken with Sorgues, is a scenic little town of 21,000 inhabitants in the Comtat Venaissin. It is one of the “must see” in Provence. It stands in the plain, at the foot of the Plateau of the Vaucluse and two arms of the Sorgues river frame the city while several channels water the old core. In the past the flow set in motion many paddle-wheels that were used to operate silk mills in the XVIIIth and paper mills in the XIXth. Some of them are still turning but only for the pleasure of the visitors.

The narrow streets are intimately knitted with channels and the visitor must wander along the banks, from one small bridge to the next one. Besides the old center, the “Partage des eaux”, I km upstream is a special place. The Sorgues widens into a calm body of water before it divides itself into two arms. It is sometimes called the Provencal Venice as it was too built on wooden pilings in a swamp and has also a tight interlace of streets and channels.

The city is now the home of more than 300 antique shops and art galleries. Twice a year (Easter and August 15th) the antique’s fair gathers more than 500 antique dealers and brings visitors worldwide.

L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgues

It is 80 km from Marseille, 20 km from Avignon and easily reached by train or busses.

L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgues

Last visit to L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue: Jun 2007
Intro Updated Sep 24, 2010
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Reviews (10)

Unexpected visitors on the promenade - L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue

The promenade is not only for you! Things to Do (6)

The promenade is fit for all visitors, not only for you that read this tip. Especially in the evening but also in the... more travel advice

Café restaurant de la Sorgues - L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue

Good food and nice terrace Restaurants (2)

Café restaurant de la Sorgues stands along the promenade, on the other side of a canal. We had a “joue de porc confite”... more travel advice

Restaurant “le Cours d’Eau”, front terrace - L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue

Nice and calm Restaurants (2)

“le Cours d’Eau” is a hotel, a restaurant and a bar. The menu of the restaurant was fine, with reasonable prices but we... more travel advice

Hôtel “le Cours d’Eau”, - L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue

For weight watchers! Hotels (1)

Hôtel “le Cours d’Eau” stands at one extremity of the promenade. It has few rooms (may be 7) in a very old house and... more travel advice

Transportation (1)
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Comments (9)

Maryimelda Sep 24, 2010 at 10:03 PM Report Abuse

I've just discovered this place, now I can't wait to get there. Lovely page as usual, thanks Jean Louis.
Bwana_Brown Aug 24, 2010 at 8:23 PM Report Abuse

Quite a unique little spot you found in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and your quaint Hôtel “le Cours d’Eau" is at the top of the list! Thanks for the tour J-L, I've wanted to explore France for decades - one of these days I will!
lynnehamman Oct 6, 2009 at 6:52 AM Report Abuse

What a qauint and charming town this is. The “le Cours d’Eau” restuarant looks soooooo inviting. Lovely photos. My daughter has just toured in Provence- she loved it.
LoriPori Sep 14, 2009 at 4:34 AM Report Abuse

I know I would love this town and to think when we were in Orange, we were very close. It's so charming and picturesque - typical Province. I got a chuckle reading your Hotel tip. You almost needed a GPS to find your room. hehe!
volopolo Aug 4, 2009 at 8:05 PM Report Abuse

Must be a great destination
nyperose Sep 12, 2008 at 10:02 PM Report Abuse

I have spent 2 summers here. Wonderful! I love the Provence and I am dreaming of going back. It's so relaxing just to sit by the river and look at the ducks. On forgets about the hassle of daily life......
MalenaN Oct 31, 2007 at 11:46 PM Report Abuse

L'lsle-sur-la-Sorgue looks like a nice small town. Over 300 antique shops and art galleries sounds a lot for a town of that size!
Kuznetsov_Sergey Jul 9, 2007 at 7:35 AM Report Abuse

Nice page about a place which unfortunately will be collecting 5 rated pages long... Oh, a problem of parking in Paris is always in my memory! But if there is this problem in such a small town..?
Trekki Jul 5, 2007 at 11:29 PM Report Abuse

Cute little town :-) Haha, I like the hotel, it is very much special from your descriptions :-))