ANTIQUES dealers, stylists, vintage collectors from all over the world and tourists who like a bit of a bargain will be heading for the south of France next weekend for the Antiques Festival at L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue.
The town near Avignon, has a weekly flea market on Sundays and a Provençal market on Thursdays, but twice a year, at Easter and in August, there’s a monster event with stalls selling everything from grand chandeliers to ancient linen and enough old silverware to fill a chateau. The Foire Internationale des Antiquités has been running since the mid 1960s, and has now become one of the biggest antiques fairs in the world.
Rummaging and bargaining aside, it’s a pretty waterside town with plenty of good cafes and restaurants. Marseilles is the closest international airport. La Maison Sur La Sorgue is a boutique hotel that gets rave reviews for its big airy rooms, friendly owners and the fact that the front door opens directly into the market. Naturally it’s booked out for next weekend but has availability through the autumn with doubles from €240 with breakfast. lamaisonsurlasorgue.com