Floating Market 2024 in Provence & French Riviera

Floating Market, or Marché Flottant, takes place every year on the first Sunday of August in L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, a Provençal town in the department of Vaucluse. L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is famous for its picturesque waterwheels on the Sorgue River as well as antique stores and abundant markets with delightful Provençal produce: olives, lavender, truffles, fruits, vegetables, and various spices and herbs.

Hours and Location

The Floating Market, located behind the L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue Town Hall (Mairie), is undoubtedly a unique experience, full of joy, colors, scents, noise, and Provence flair. Shoppers try to come as early as possible to see local farmers gathering in the traditional flat-bottomed "Nego-Chin" boats, which were used for fishing in the past. Farmers dress up in traditional clothes, decorate their boats with flowers, and float around the "Venice of Provence," singing the famous "Coupo Santo" and offering fruits, vegetables, wine, cheese, bread, and bouquets of flowers. Attendees can stand on the banks of the river or docks and bend to buy directly from the boats. You can visit the vibrant floating market from 9 am to 1 pm and fill your basket with delicious food while enjoying the lively atmosphere.

The Regular Sunday Market

l'Isle sur la Sorgue also boasts a regular all-year-round Sunday market, the largest in the Luberon area. The market, located in the town center, not far from the train station, sells everything, from food to antiques and fine arts. Usually, the market features about 300 stalls. This number almost doubles during the antique fairs, held two times per year. The International Antiques Fair takes place at Easter and in August. The Sunday Market, just like the Floating Market, operates from 9 am to 1 pm. After shopping, you can relax in one of the riverfront cafes, sampling delicious Provence cuisine and enjoying the picture-perfect views.