Provence is nothing if not traditional and the annual festival that takes place each third Sunday in July in the beautiful village of L'Isle sur la Sorgue is no different.
This Sunday, 19th July, the the brotherhood of Pescaire Lilien (fishermen of the Isle) will take to the river in the 'nego-chin' boats, armed with the seven pronged trident in order to recreate the traditional fishing methods in the river Sorgue.
The nego-chin boats are flat-bottomed and were used for fishing or hunting in the marshes. Very light, fast and highly manoeuvrable these vessels are typically Provençal. Isle sur la Sorgue was originally a big fishing town with fishermen, armed in various ways, looking for crayfish, trout, eels or shadows. The boat literally glides over the water so as not to scare the fish.
Dressed in corduroy trousers, grey flannel waistcoats, a white shirt and wearing a large black felt hat, they will be re-enacting the traditional fishing techniques once used by their ancestors. The nautical parade is the highlight of the festivities here in the village and most of the town will turn out to see the fisherman and following procession to the church for a traditional mass. If you are in L'Isle sur la Sorgue on Sunday then this is a real treat and an event not to be missed.
