La Maison Sur La Sorgue, L’Isle-sur-La-Sorgue, Provence, France - Explore & Book

"L’Isle-sur-La-Sorgue is a beautiful old mill town encircled by a network of canals. These days it's best known for its Sunday antiques market (one of the biggest in Europe), but originally it made its name making clothes for the Popes of Avignon. Plague swept through in 1628, followed by the Revolution in 1793, when the town was sacked. As a result much of the architecture dates to the early 19th century.This grand old townhouse stands bang in the thick of things. Church bells chime around the corner, the market weaves past directly outside. Inside, you find old stone walls, fine arched doorways, statues of eastern deities sitting on the stairs and a handsome first-floor sitting room. A cavernous kitchen/dining room opens onto an equally enormous courtyard, which comes with a small swimming pool. Best of all are the gigantic rooms and suites. They’re not cheap, but they deliver in spades: bold décor, free-standing tubs, super-comfy beds and oodles of romance. Highs The big courtyard has a decked pool, heated in cooler weather - an unexpected treat in townThe stylish rooms are huge, plus one has an enormous terrace which overlooks the market sqaureThe pretty old town is famous for its Sunday antiques market and is ringed by waterYou can tuck into delicious 3-course breakfastsIts shop, Retour de Voyage, sells a host of treasures from the owners' travels, including books, art and furnishings Lows The rooms are expensive for a B&B, but in a hotel you’d pay doubleTVs are available on demand only, so ask for one if you’re going to want itYou’re in the middle of the old town so expect a little noise. You may be woken early on market days (Thursday and Sunday) by sellers setting up their stallsMost restaurants close on Tuesday and Wednesday nights in low season" - Tom Bell