It's Sunday morning and the thriving market in L'Isle Sur La Sorgue in southern France is busy.

That's because everywhere you go families and little children are carrying bouquets of flowers and goodies. Brightly coloured flowers fill the streets as this little town comes alive with the weekly market.

Fresh produce is available on the many stalls and the market has all the sights and smells of Provence.

Just an hour outside Marseille, L'Isle Sur La Sorgue is nestled between rolling countryside and hilltop villages. Surrounded by water, it resembles a miniature Venice but has all the charm and character of a quaint Medieval village.

The town has reinvented itself many times. It was once a busy fishing village, followed by a silk and wool town. It has transformed itself again to become the second biggest antique centre in France after Paris, having more than 350 antique dealers housed in small antiquity villages.

People from all corners of the world flock to the area. Two major antique fairs are held during the year and most weekends bargain hunters are looking for items to add to their collections.

An 18th century writing desk caught my eye, but I doubted my bag allowance would cover the extra weight.

Wandering through the cobbled streets, this town has a relaxed but vibrant feel to it, with plenty of restaurants to while away the hours in the warm summer sun.

The promise of a visit to a chocolatier beckoned and tucked away near the former Jewish corner is La Cour aux Saveurs.

The bright modern shop, run by Florian Courreau and wife Sylvie, is a chocolate lovers' paradise, with flavour combinations and sensations filling the shelves.

Florian followed in the footsteps of his father and now has his own artisan chocolate shop. He draws his inspiration from everything around him, from the seasons to Provence ingredients.

"From marshmallow and chocolate lollipops to using flavours such as coriander, lavender, I love to create something different," he says.

Watching him at work in his factory is like watching an artist at a canvas - and the best thing about his works of art is you can eat them.

My home for the weekend was La Maison sur la Sorgue, a beautifully restored towering building that has been transformed into a boutique hotel. It has an enviable position on one of the town's popular squares.

Leaving L'Isle sur la Sorgue behind, it's not long before I stumble upon one of the most beautiful villages in France.

Perched high on a hill, the views from Gordes are breathtaking. It is also home to one of the most beautiful Romanesque abbeys in Provence, Senanque Abbey.

It's worth the short drive and en route the scenery is amazing, with poppy fields in full bloom.

The River Sorgue offers another destination to discover. The tiny village of Fontaine de Vaucluse is the source of the river and many visitors come to admire the views and hear the sound of the water flowing down stream.

Like me, it winds its way back to L'Isle sur la Sorgue. Another idyllic French connection.

n Deborah travelled with Ryanair from Edinburgh to Marseille. She stayed at La Maison sur la Sorgue. www.lamaisonsurlasorgue.com.

n For more information see www.Provenceguide.com, www.tourisme-paca.com, www.oti-delasorgue.fr