An exposure apparatus which exposes a substrate to a pattern of an original via a projection optical system, with a gap between the projection optical system and the substrate being filled with liquid. The apparatus includes a substrate stage, movable with respect to the projection optical system, which holds the substrate, a plate, movable with respect to the projection optical system, having a substantially flush surface with an exposed surface of the substrate held by the substrate stage, and an immersion unit configured to supply and to recover the liquid. Supply and recovery by the immersion unit are simultaneously executed while the plate opposes the projection optical system.