french antiques in isle sur la sorgue

by Sharon Santoni

isle sur la sorgue

Many of you may be familiar with the antique filled town of Isle sur la Sorgue in the south of France, but as it’s likely that most visitors go there in the summer, you may not know that a highpoint of the year is the Easter weekend.

isle sur la sorgue antique fair

This is the 51st year  of the Isle sur la Sorgue Antiques Art & You fair.   From 13th to 17th April, the 300 regular dealers in the town are joined by several hundred other antique and brocante dealers from all over France, for a four day long brocante and design bonanza.

isle sur la sorgue design

Each day of the fair sees different events, including two late night shopping and even an Antique Dealers Ball on the Saturday evening.

isle sur la sorgue antique fair

As well as the different buying areas, there are also plenty of places to eat during the day.

isle sur la sorgue antiques

The best way to experience the fair is to stay close by and spend a couple of days, taking your time to walk the narrow streets and really take it all in.    In my book the best place to stay near Isle sur la Sorgue is the quietly stunning hotel, Bastide de Gordes.   Spacious rooms, impeccable service and an excellent restaurant.   One of the most luxurious addresses in the South .

bastide de gordes pool

17 comments

david terry March 26, 2017 - 6:59 pm

Yes, Bastide de Gordes is (to understate the matter) lovely.

Have you ever seen photographs of Gordes from 1945? the Germans did a MAJOR number of the town. Walking around it today, I can never, for the life of me, figure out how anyone managed to put it all back together again.

It’s not as though all the stones were numbered before the places blown up, but I suppose the French have gotten good at this re-assembling business…

thanks for the evocative posting,

David Terry

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Sandra Evans March 26, 2017 - 7:11 pm

Wow!What a wonderful way to shop for antiques and enjoy France as well. I look forward to visiting next year. Thanks for sharing.

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Vicky from Athens March 26, 2017 - 7:20 pm

Today’s post brings back fond memories of a trip there with my sister nearly two years ago. We had such a great time in that little town – I hope to go back some day. It’s in such a wonderful location to visit so many beautiful sights!

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Jody March 26, 2017 - 7:27 pm

My husband and I visited here while staying in the south of France and had such a memorable, wonderful time. Maybe we can visit there again over the Easter holiday in the future as we get ready for semi-retirement and more European adventures.

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Miranda March 26, 2017 - 7:53 pm

Lovely! My kind of weekend – and that pool looks divine too!

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Gigi March 26, 2017 - 7:57 pm

I stayed in this village some years ago for 10 days. Fabulous.
We were low budget and stayed at a hotel in walking distance called Les Nevons I think. Lovely owners.
Don’t miss it. Also a good place from which to reach other places – by bus or train.
Gigi

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Vicky March 26, 2017 - 10:41 pm

We stayed at Les Nevons, also. I saw it was recommended by Rick Steves in his book so I figured why not? Great location to walk everywhere, secured parking, large rooms and bathrooms. It suited our needs!

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Lorrie March 26, 2017 - 8:34 pm

What a beautiful place to visit. The Caisse d’Epargne building is also so lovely, situated on the water as it is.

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Bonnie Trout March 26, 2017 - 10:01 pm

I was not aware of this Market, it looks wonderful. My husband and I are going to the south of France in July so sadly we will miss this but I may try to schedule going there next year, thank you for sharing this.

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Sandra McCulloch March 27, 2017 - 12:55 am

Isle Sur La Sorgue is one of our favorite places to visit. In fact, we are going there in early May for two weeks. I love the markets and the whole set up for vendors, it is most enchanting! This is our third time visiting there.
Your post was very timely!
Thanks for all your wonderful suggestions!
Sandra McCulloch

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joie March 27, 2017 - 1:15 am

Oh my, I cannot imagine. I was there in 2003 on a Sunday in June and brought home several treasures. The one we wanted was a huge metal sign that said “Boucherie’ but it would have cost way too much. Instead settled on some cheese pots, wooden shoe inserts, silverware and antique linens. And with all this and a set of dishes(not antique) we had to buy extra luggage and left some clothes behind.

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Linda Mahkovec March 27, 2017 - 1:22 am

What a wonderful way to spend a weekend! I’ve added it to The List.

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Cathy Chapman March 27, 2017 - 6:49 am

Oh, yes! I have been there! What a lovely area and the shopping was great! I bought lots of antiques and gifts for friends & family there. I also knocked a few things off of my long list of items to buy in France! The surrounding shops were nice, too, although not many antiques, mostly retail. And wonderful food…..but, then again, it’s France!

Cathy

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JaneEllen March 27, 2017 - 8:24 am

Seeing places like this and hearing about the antique fair makes me wish we had more money. This would be where I would want to go, how heavenly. Your opening photo is delightful. What an enchanting looking place with the water around it. Don’t know which I’d be more happy to see as I love antiques. So happy you shared this, will forward post to my daughter whom always wanted to see France.
Her oldest daughter got to see some of France last summer when she was an AuPair in Italy. France, It Have wonderful weekaly, even Switzerland and Greece. She got quite an education.
Enjoy the antique fair and seeing the area, lucky lady.

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Penny March 27, 2017 - 2:43 pm

We stayed in an apartment in the heart of Isle sur la sorgue a few years ago and fell in love with the town. The Sunday Brocante was so much fun. We will return one day. Lovely post.

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Suzanne March 28, 2017 - 2:43 pm

My hubby and I were there also, but it was in the middle of a hot summer all over Europe. The beauty of this area in July is having a central location, and driving the lavender routes to various villages. We stayed the week in Avignon which is a lovely medieval city, and we drove to Gordes, Arles, Les Baux, Isle Sur la Sorge and more, viewing lavender, wheat, and sunflowers along the way….and stopping to walk in the midst of it all. Absolutely lovely with lovely French people in every village and town.

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Frances Boychuk March 17, 2020 - 2:09 pm

Hi Sharon, could you please describe the process and how costly it would be to go there to buy furniture but then ship it back to Canada or North America in general?

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