L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and Fontaine-de-Vaucluse

L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is a canal town in the Vaucluse department of Provence, about 25 km east of Avignon, where branches of the Sorgue river run through the centre and turn old waterwheels. Nearby Fontaine-de-Vaucluse holds the spring that feeds the river. The TER train from Avignon-Centre to L'Isle-Fontaine-de-Vaucluse takes about 20 to 30 minutes and costs roughly EUR 4-5 (~$5-6), running about hourly; a Zou bus then continues to Fontaine-de-Vaucluse. Drivers can park in town for free to EUR 3. A good day starts in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue in the morning, strolling the canals, the waterwheels and the streets around Place de l'Église. The town is known for antiques, with shops and dealer villages, and for its Sunday market, which spreads through the centre and along the riverbanks; antiques fairs add to the activity on some weekends, so timing a Sunday visit suits shoppers while weekdays are calmer. Lunch can be taken at a canalside restaurant or café, with local produce from the market as an alternative picnic. The afternoon moves to Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, around 43.9217, 5.1255, where a footpath of about 15 to 20 minutes leads up the valley to the pool at the base of a cliff, the source of the Sorgue. Water levels are highest in spring after rain or snowmelt and lowest in late summer, when the pool is calm and sometimes lower. The village has cafés and small museums near the river. The walk is easy overall, with a gentle uphill path at the spring. The town is pleasant year-round, though the main season runs from spring to autumn, and winter is quiet with some shops closed. The return train to Avignon runs into the evening, but the last departure should be checked, and the Zou bus schedule to Fontaine-de-Vaucluse should be confirmed beforehand.