2. • L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is a town and commune
on the Sorgue river in southeastern France.
Politically, the commune is in
the arrondissement of Avignon within
the département of Vaucluse and
the région of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur.
3. • The small town is famous for its
many antique shops and hosts antique
markets most Sundays. It has many
waterside cafés and restaurants, all
within walking distance of each other.
Its many attractive water wheels
throughout the town are still in working
order. Keith Floyd, the British TV chef
and bon viveur, established a
restaurant there during a lengthy
sojourn in France.
• L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is twinned with the
towns of Penicuik in the UK,
and Anagni in Italy.
4. • Originally known as "Insula", the town officially adopted the
name of "L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue" on 18 August 1890, taking the
latter part of its name from the river Sorgue, to which it owed
much.
5. • As early as the 12th century, the river served
defensively as a moat around ramparts which
surrounded the town until 1795. The river also served
as a source of food and industry: fishing and artisan
mills for oil, wheat, silk, paper, woolenry, rugs and
dyeing.
