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How late does the Market in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue stay open on Sundays?

Hi there-
We are heading to Provence on our honeymoon, and will be biking from Avignon to L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue on Sunday.
We should be able to be in Avignon by 10am, and L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue by 11:30.
From my research, I see that markets open around 8:30am, and close around 1pm in Provence, but I have also read that the Sunday Market in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue goes a bit later... that vendors take a wine & cheese lunch even...
Hoping it doesn't close at noon!

Any more information about how late the Market runs on Sundays will help us to know how much we can doddle and "ooo" & "ahhh" during our pedal East.
THANKS!!

-lisa reynolds
Bainbridge Island, WA

Posted by
755 posts

This Sunday market is open til 1 pm...much of the fresh produce, roast chickens (delicious), cooked foods, and baked goods usually sells out before then. Some of the artisans may stay open later...and some of the antique shops definitely. I have seen some antiquaires close for lunch, and reopen later. If you want to see the market at its best, though, you might want to arrive as early as you can. I haven't biked from Avignon to L'Isle, perhaps someone else on the forum can advise if 1 1/2 hours is reasonable for this distance. Can you leave from Avignon any earlier?

Posted by
3 posts

Sadly we cannot. We're on a train from Paris in the morning, and it's Sunday so the schedule is limited.
Looks like we should be able to get there by 11:30.
Thanks for your help.
-lisa

Posted by
189 posts

We've been to the Sur la Sorgue market twice. It's a very nice market. Our experience has been, get to the markets by 8:30 or 9:00 before the masses arrive. Hopefully you will catch some markets during the week or next Sunday.

Posted by
4088 posts

Many French markets, maybe most, close for the day around the French lunch hour, 1-2 pm. That's true even of the markets open daily (except, usually, Monday.) However, indoor shops adjacent to the market may keep more regular hours.

Posted by
3 posts

Thank you. It's interesting learning about French culture as I read; the "French Lunch Hour", etc. We will do our best and experience what we can... wonderful thing about holiday-ing is that happy accidents are just waiting to happen. If we miss the market, we might meet someone - hear a story. I appreciate your assistance. Have a sweet day.
-lisa

Posted by
28085 posts

L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is quite a beautiful town--a fact that is a bit harder to recognize when the market is in full sway, because the booths block your view of much of the architecture. And the Sunday market is very large indeed. So if you happen to arrive too late for the market, it means you'll have an easier time appreciating the beauty of the town!