L Isle sur la Sorgue is a town threaded by canals and waterways, earning it the name Venice of Provence. But this is no imitation of Italy. The town has its own distinct character, rooted in Provencal culture. Water wheels still turn in the Sorgue River, a legacy of the mills that once powered local industry. The Sunday market is one of the best in Provence, filling the streets with antiques, fresh produce, and flowers. Antique dealers have made the town a destination for collectors from across Europe. Cafes line the waterways under plane trees. The surrounding countryside is a patchwork of lavender fields and vineyards. This is Provence at its most picturesque.
On the islands on five arms of the river Sorgue there is located a beautiful medieval town of L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, which is due to its location often called the “Venice of Provence“. Center of town is surrounded by water channels and you will find here eight large wooden water wheels.
The Water Wheels and History of L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
The eight monumental water wheels are the most iconic feature of L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, and they represent a living link to the town’s industrial past. Already in the 12th century, the first settlers arrived in this marshy region, building their houses on piles driven into the wetlands. The water from the marshes was channelled into a network of canals, and water mills were constructed along the Sorgue River to harness its powerful flow. The captured energy was used to process silk, wool, grain, and even to manufacture handmade paper, transforming this small settlement into the most important town of the Comtat Venaissin region. At the height of its prosperity in the 17th and 18th centuries, more than 70 water wheels turned along the river, powering a thriving industrial economy. Today, eight of these wheels have been restored and continue to turn, their wooden paddles splashing in the clear green water as they have for centuries. The largest and most photographed is the Grand Roue on the Canal de l’Hopital, which retains its original mechanism and stands as a symbol of the town. The Sorgue River itself is remarkable: it is one of the most powerful springs in Europe, rising from the Fontaine de Vaucluse, a vast underground resurgence that produces up to 630 million cubic metres of water per year. The river runs fast and clear, its emerald water so pure that it was once believed to have healing properties.
Antiques, Markets, and historic Buildings
L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is one of the most important centres for antiques in France, second only to Paris. The town hosts a famous antiques market every Sunday, drawing dealers and collectors from across Europe. More than 300 antiques professionals have permanent showrooms in the town, clustered along the quais and in the narrow streets of the old centre. The market spills out along the canals, with stalls selling furniture, paintings, jewellery, porcelain, and Art Deco pieces. On the first Sunday of each month, the market expands into a vast brocante, or flea market, that fills every available space. Beyond the antiques, the Sunday food market is one of the best in Provence, offering local cheeses, olives, honey, lavender products, and fresh produce that reflects the richness of the surrounding countryside. Among the town historic buildings, the Tour Boutin, also known as the Tour d’Argent, stands as the oldest structure in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue. This medieval tower dates from the period when the town was under the rule of the Counts of Toulouse, though its original purpose remains unknown. Nearby, the Chapel of Notre Dame des Anges, built in 1222 and reconstructed in the 17th century in Italian baroque style, ranks among the most beautiful baroque buildings in Provence. The windows on the north side were bricked up in 1666 to protect against the cold mistral wind. Inside, the altar of Carrara marble is crowned by Reynaud Levieux’s 1630 painting of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. The streets Rue du Dr. Roux, Rue Jean, and Rue Jean-Theophile are lined with particularly picturesque buildings that showcase the town’s architectural heritage.
The water appears almost everywhere in this picturesque medieval town full of water mills. Thanks to the mills, L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue soon became the center and the most important city of Venaissin-Comtat area (Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur today). Several of these water wheels, which ensured the prestige of the city are still spinning here.
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In many homes you will find souvenir shops for tourists. At the waterfront of Sorgue river there is an antique market every weekend, which is the 2nd largest of its kind in France after that one in Paris.
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Would you hunt for antiques or browse the Sunday market by the water? 💐
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