La Maison Sur La Sorgue

A grand house in the middle of this famous market town with lovely big rooms and a pool in the courtyard

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. They’re not cheap, but they deliver in spades: bold décor, chic bathrooms and super-comfy beds.

Highs

• The big courtyard has a decked pool - an unexpected treat in town
• The stylish rooms tend to be huge; one has an enormous covered terrace
• The pretty old town is famous for its Sunday antiques market and is ringed by water
• You can tuck into delicious 3-course breakfasts
• The 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 double
• TVs are available on demand only, so ask for one if you’re going to want it
• You’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 stalls
• Most restaurants close on Tuesday and Wednesday nights in low season