Lourmarin proudly greets its visitors with the announcement that it is one of the most beautiful villages in France. The village, built on two small hills at the foot of the Luberon, certainly has everything to deserve such an (official) classification. There are cozy streets between the old houses, a medieval castle on the edge of the center and the mountains of the Luberon form the backdrop of this southern French town. If you cross the Luberon south from Apt or Bonnieux, you will arrive via the Combe de Lourmarin in the village from which this gorge takes its name. After leaving the combe (a narrow valley), the visitor drives through the vineyards until the old castle reveals the proximity of Lourmarin.
History
The area around Lourmarin has been inhabited since the Stone Age and many centuries later the Romans also left their mark there. In 1075, Lourmarin is first mentioned as Luzmari , after which the name changes twice more in the 12th century: in 1165 in Lucemarino , 34 years later the town gets its current name. Although Lourmarin, located along the Marseille – Apt route, has been an important commercial center since the 11th century, the region became almost completely uninhabited in the 14th century due to repeated plundering and the plague. Fouquet d’Agoult, baron and builder of the castle of Lourmarin, had the region repopulated by Waldensians in 1470.
The old core
In the center of Lourmarin, the old houses are densely packed and the narrow streets invite you to visit. The visitor passes fountains, shops, galleries, restaurants and can relax on one of the terraces or simply watch the many passers-by. The street plan circles around the belfry, which is located at the highest point in the town. The belfry, popularly called Boîte à Sel (the salt shaker), was built on the foundations of an old castle. The Romanesque church of Saint-Trophisme Saint-André is also worth a visit.
Petite Villa Medicis de Provence
The castle of Lourmarin, located outside the actual center, was built at the end of the 15th century and is the oldest Renaissance castle in Provence. The 16th century wing is still furnished and contains collections from the 15th to 19th centuries. The castle nicknamed Petite Villa Médicis de Provence is open to the public. Guided tours are provided and there are treasure hunts for children. The castle also serves as a cultural center for Lourmarin and the surrounding area. The Protestant church of Lourmarin is located between the castle and the center, which is not a given in this predominantly Catholic country, but also no surprise given the village’s Protestant past (the Waldensians were Protestants).
Albert Camus and Henri Bosco
At the cemetery of Lourmarin you will find the graves of the writers Henri Bosco and Albert Camus. The latter received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1957. Bosco lived in the Mas Théotime, Camus settled in Lourmarin in 1958, but died two years later in a car accident. Two literary walking tours have been set out in the town, allowing visitors to follow in the footsteps of these two great writers.
Luberon
Lourmarin is located on a plateau and built on two small hills. The old center is located on one hill, and the castle of Fouquet d’Agoult is on the second. The Luberon begins on the north side of Lourmarin. The aforementioned Combe de Lourmarin, the natural division between the Petit and the Grand Luberon, is worth a visit. The alternation of greenery and high rocks creates impressive nature. In the combe, not far from Lourmarin, the Aigue Brun is spanned by a characteristic Romanesque bridge.
Stay
There are various options for accommodation in the town and the immediate surroundings. Lourmarin has a relatively large number of cafes and restaurants. Cultural activities regularly take place in the castle. On Friday mornings it is crowded in Lourmarin, because that is when the weekly market takes place. The local tourist office is located on Place Henri Barthélémy.
read more
- Market day in Provence
- Provence – the Fort of Buoux
- Provence – the Roman theater in Orange
- Avignon: the Papal Palace