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L'Isle
sur la Sorgue, is a beautiful small provencal town of 18,000 inhabitants
nestling in the heart of the Vaucluse, not far from Avignon (it is 25
km from Avignon). It is a 'must'
in Provence with regard to antiques, and is a bargain hunter's paradise. Antique
dealers and bric-a-brac traders have been settling here for over
30 years, and there are currently almost 400 of them, giving l'Isle sur
la Sorgue the charm and
prestigious reputation it is renowned for. It
is one of the most important towns in France for antiques (second only to Saint
Ouen), and attracts intellectuals, artists and tourists. The
success and reputation of the town have made L'Isle sur la Sorgue
known throughout the world. |
L'Isle
sur la Sorgue is nicknamed 'Venice Comtadine', 'Venice' for it's similarities
with the 'sérénissime' (which was the Venetian republic,
the main Italian town for art and culture), and 'Comtadine' as the town was
for a long time at the heart of the Cotat-Venaissin region (now known as the
Vaucluse), which belonged to the Pope from 1274 until 1791. L'Isle
sur la Sorgue only became part of France in 1791, at the end of the Pope's reign. | |
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Situated
on the banks of the Sorgue, this ancient fishing village was built on
stilts in the marshes in the 12th Century. Fishing
was for a long time the most important economic activity in this island town,
and even now traditional festivities remain a part of the town's development.
L'Isle sur la Sorgue also has an industrial
history of silk, wool and paper manufacturing (imported
by the Italians in the 12th century), with the paddle wheels situated
along the banks of the river providing the exclusive energy source. |
Recently,
l'Isle sur la Sorgue has become the 'stronghold' of antique dealers and
bric-a-brac traders alike, who have created veritable antiques quarters,
of which there are six. Numerous antique
fairs and markets colour the town throughout the year, although the Easter
Fair and the fair on the 15th August are the most important, and
will thrill both connaisseurs and amateurs of antiques from all over the world.
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L'Isle
sur la Sorgue is an unmissable stop among the most beautiful places in
France, with a highly prestigious cultural, intellectual, spiritual and
architectural heritage. |
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