Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
farmhouse-hotel, which has earned its reputation as a laudable Provençal restaurant
(though owned by an Englishman!). Menus feature hearty fare - thyme-roasted duckling,
foie gras and rack of lamb - served on linen in an atmospheric stone-walled dining room.
Attractive, simple
rooms
( 04 90 61 61 09;
www.bonoty.com
;
chemin de la Bonoty; d
incl breakfast €75-95;
)
are available with half-board.
Hôtel Prato-Plage €
( 04 90 61 37 75;
www.pratoplage.com
;
rte de Carpentras; d/tr €74/86; )
Despite
its unpromising location 2km out of town behind an industrial park, this family resort is a
wonderful surprise. Seasonal lake and beach (with lifeguard) lend a summer-camp vibe.
Spacious rooms are decorated with traditional Provençal furnishings. A good on-site res-
taurant looks out towards Mont Ventoux. Alas, limited wi-fi.
FAMILY HOTEL
L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
POP 21,000
A moat of flowing river encircles the 'Venice of Provence', with picturesque waterwheels
trailing dripping green moss. L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue's material draw is its upmarket antiques
shops (
Click here
)
, where it is fun to nose around even if you're not buying. L'Isle dates
to the 12th century, when fishermen built huts on stilts above what was then a marsh. By
the 18th century, canals lined with 70 giant wheels powered silk factories and paper mills.
Sights & Activities
Old Town
The tourist office distributes a
Patrimony
brochure revealing the exceptional historical
centre. Highlights include the
Collégiale Notre Dame des Anges
(Our Lady of Angels;
place de la Liberté; 10am-noon & 3-6pm daily Jul-Sep, Tue-Sat Oct-Jun)
, whose
stately exterior offers no clue of the Baroque theatrics inside - 122 gold angels ushering
the Virgin Mary; and a magnificent 1648-built organ, on the left as you face the altar
(pipes on the right are mute, purely for visual symmetry).
The former
Jewish quarter
exists in name only - the ghetto's synagogue was des-
troyed in 1856. The ancient
fishermen's quarter
, a tangle of narrow passageways, dead-
ends in L'Isle's eastern corner and retains an apart, town-within-a-town feeling. Dotting
HISTORIC QUARTER
