Art & Culture
At L'Isle de Leos, art and culture are not just a backdrop, but a breath of fresh air. Sculptures, frescoes, antiques and works of art are a natural part of the décor, a nod to the creative soul of L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue.
Inspired by artists past and present, the house cultivates a genuine, lively sensibility that invites curiosity. Here, every nook and cranny tells a story, every detail awakens. You contemplate, you discover, you exchange - quite simply.
Permanent exhibitions & works of art at the hotel
At L'Isle de Leos, more than 120 permanent works of art - photographs, paintings, objects and books - punctuate the premises like whispered confidences, including iconic pieces such as Raphaël Thierry's Quo Vadis, posters by René Char and sensitive photographs by Jean-Pierre Germain. Each work is a natural part of the house's soul, offering visitors a poetic stroll, at the crossroads of emotion, heritage and the Provencal art of living.
Masterpiece: the sculptural wheel
Set in the heart of the restaurant, embracing the Sorgue River, the sculptural wheel at L'Isle de Leos is much more than a decorative element: it's a vibrant tribute to the history of the site, formerly a mill and then a sawmill. Made to measure by a local craftsman, this work of art in wood and patinated metal is a poetic reinterpretation of the site's emblematic paddlewheel. Subtly illuminated, it becomes the focal point of the La Roue restaurant, creating a link between past and present, heritage and modernity.
And when the wheel gently sets itself in motion, echoing the peaceful flow of the Sorgue, it invites contemplation, accompanies your meal and gives rhythm to the experience of a typically Provençal moment of suspension.
Artists and L'Isle sur la Sorgue
L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue has always attracted free spirits. René Char, a committed poet, found his source of inspiration here, as did his friends Picasso and Camus, who came here to breathe in the authenticity of the place. Even today, the town perpetuates this intimate relationship with artists: Raphaël Thierry exhibits his visual poetry here, Renaud draws his raw, sincere energy here. In L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, art doesn't invite itself, it's at home.
MASTERPIECE: SOUL OF PROVENCE (NUEL)
Created by architect and designer Jean-Philippe Nuel, this monumental eight-metre-long work is a tribute to Provençal craftsmanship.
Comprising a wall made entirely of Provençal tiles, each one different from the next, it tells the story of the region through these traditional, hand-crafted elements.
At the heart of the work are alcoves revealing unique artistic treasures.
