Originally known as "Insula", the town officially adopted the name
of "L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue" on 18 August 1890, taking the latter part
of its name from the river Sorgue, to which it owed much. As early as the 12th
century, the river served defensively as a moat around ramparts which
surrounded the town until 1795. The river also served as a source of food and
industry: fishing and artisan mills for oil, wheat, silk, paper, woolen, rugs
and dyeing. A busy commerce developed until there were two annual fairs and two
weekly markets. The current Sunday open-air market originated on 9 November
1596
