L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, River town in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is a commune in Vaucluse department within Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, where several arms of the Sorgue river run through the streets. The old water wheels stand at different points along the canals and now form part of the everyday streetscape among houses and shops.
The first canals appeared in the 12th century to power mills and workshops using water from the Sorgue. Silk production from the 18th century brought economic growth, later joined by paper manufacturing in the 19th century.
The town takes its name from the Sorgue spring at Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, whose waters feed the canals that shape the urban layout. Locals often refer to it simply as L'Isle and shop at the two weekly markets that line the waterfront promenades.
Most antique shops cluster in the center around the waterways and typically open from Thursday through Monday. Visitors find parking areas on the outskirts and reach the center within a few minutes on foot.
Each year at Easter a large antiques fair takes place, with dealers from across Europe setting up stalls in public squares and courtyards. The event draws collectors from around the world and transforms the entire town into an open-air exhibition for several days.
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