Lourmarin - Vaucluse, Provence, France travel

Visitez Lourmarin : gites | hotels | location des voitures | explore Provence

Lourmarin ('most beautiful villages of Provence') is 20 km south of Apt.

Tourist Information

Lourmarin has been settled for at least a thousand years, and the site was possibly previously occupied as a Neolithic campsite. The village as we now see it came into being with the building of a castle here - constructed in the 12th century, and subsequently replaced in the 15th century.

The village itself is very attractive, with the obligatory narrow winding Provençal streets meandering past centuries old houses. There are also two interesting churches, one catholic and one protestant, and part of the renaissance castle is open to the public.

There are small squares in the town where you will be pleased to stop for a while and enjoy a refreshing drink while reflecting on the history that positively oozes from the town. Or stop longer in one of the many restaurants that dot about the town (perhaps in the hope that Peter Mayle, who I understand now lives near the town, might stop by).

From the village there are attractive views and you can see the Loint Bastide - this is a large fortified farmhouse dating from the Middle Ages.

The town also has a reputation for attracting artists - it's most famous inhabitant was Albert Camus who lived here and is buried in the Lourmarin cemetery.