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L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue Market

I'm in the midst of planning our itinerary for our week in Provence in early October. We are staying in St. Remy and will take in their famed market on Wednesday, and will also visit the market in Eygalières on Friday as part of a cooking class we are taking that day. The question I have is whether the Sunday market in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is also a must-see, given its reputation as a great antiques market. Quite frankly, the stories of the horrendous crowds on Sunday concern me, especially if we're likely to see, for the most part, just the same types of market offering we'll have already experienced. I'm not a particularly avid or knowledgeable antique-hunter, and would mostly just be browsing.

If the advice is to skip that market, what other suggestions would you have for spending our last day - that Sunday - in Provence, within an hour's drive from St. Remy?

Posted by
386 posts

I stayed in ISLS in early June 2022 and went to the Sunday market … yeah, the crowds were overwhelming and really detracted from it. I love European markets, but only if I can stroll and see the variety of offerings, etc. This one just made me want to escape.

Posted by
28065 posts

I went to L'Isle on Sunday, May 28, 2017. I enjoyed the market, but there were stalls all over the place, and I felt it was difficult to appreciate the beauty of the town. As to the antiques, there were multiple shops open around one edge of the market that seemed to have a lot of things like furniture that probably wouldn't be of interest to many travelers except folks from the UK who had driven down to Provence. I vaguely remember some stalls or tables with smaller items set up closer to the core of the market, but I didn't come away thinking it was a great place to look for antiques. It might be different just a bit later in the year. And except for (glass) marbles, I'm really just a casual browser at antique markets, not at all an expert.

I went back to L'Isle a few days later to see it without market stalls.

Posted by
12 posts

Pretty much confirms my thought to skip the madhouse, but will definitely be looking forward to your report back, janet_kupfer,

Posted by
7300 posts

If you don't love antiques, then skip. The food market is nothing special and extra busy.