St. Chamas or Isle Sur la Sorgue

My wife and I stayed 4 nights in Isle sur la Sorgue in 2004, using it as a base for touring the Luberon/Mt Ventoux region. We rented a car, so I can't directly testify to using the train from Isle, but there is a station there. Given that one would have to transfer in Avignon to go to Arles or Marseilles by train, Avignon would seem the more logical base for train travelers. The little town of Isle s l Sorgue is lovely, though, and its market is a sight worth making time for. It is very strollable, but large enough to have several cafes, restaurants, etc

I haven't been to St Chamas but I don't think Isle sur la Sorgue is the best of what Provence has to offer. It was probably the one town in Provence that we said, eh, we could have skipped it. Are you without a car? Because adorable villages are a dime a dozen in Provence as long as you have a car. The France forum on the Slow Travel website has had lots of discussions on the best village to use as a base for a Provence visit, if you want some other opinions.
http://slowtalk.com/groupee/?s=759607521&cdra=Y

Yes, I am going without a car. We are planning on spending a month there, and wanted a town that we could hop on a train to go some places. We will rent a car at times to see some of the smaller towns not on a rail line. I have thought of using Arles as a base.....or Avignon....but they are larger cities. I guess I was wanting a smaller town. Isle sur las sorgue is described as the French Venice while St. Chamas is a town with ancient homes in the cliffs near the town. I'm glad you've been to isle sur la sorgue.... I also heard there was a great marke there.

We enjoyed Isle sur la sorgue for 2 nights. Very french and charming, great antique looking or shopping and strolling. Have not been to St Chamas to compare.