Located in the heart of the Luberon Regional Natural Park, Lourmarin is one of the most beautiful villages in France.

A beautiful village

It is in the middle of vineyards, olive and almond trees that nestles the village of Lourmarin labeled “one of the most beautiful villages in France“. Lourmarin, which has 1131 inhabitants. Lourmarin is located about 35 km from Aix en Provence, and 58 km from Avignon. Renowned for its listed castle, but also for the famous people who lived there and are buried there, such as Raoul Dautry, Albert Camus or Henri Bosco, Lourmarin is a very attractive tourist village.

A “Villa Medici”

Very lively in the summer thanks to its many café terraces, its restaurants and its Provençal shops, Lourmarin is one of the leading villages of the Luberon. Lourmarin has a 15th and 16th century castle which you should visit for its curious staircases and its magnificently furnished apartments (only the Renaissance part of the castle is open to the public). The castle stands opposite the village in an exceptional setting. Built on the remains of the old 12th century fortress, it is the first Renaissance castle in Provence. To get there, simply follow the streets lined with fountains that wind around the castle. Built in 1526, the Renaissance wing is the only part open to the public. The ceremonial spiral staircase is a curiosity not to be missed, as are the richly furnished apartments. In summer, the castle becomes an artists’ residence, and concerts are regularly given on the terraces. This earned him the nickname “Villa Medici”.

Albert Camus lived in Lourmarin

In the village you will be struck by the typically Mediterranean architecture of the site: narrow and winding streets, beautiful old houses with facades restored with local materials and always a small shaded square where you can soak up the gentle atmosphere of beautiful Provence. Locals like to point out that Albert Camus, Nobel Prize in Literature, lived and wrote here. He is also buried in the village cemetery. Needless to say, with a setting as enchanting as that of Lourmarin, a beautiful castle to visit and pleasant café terraces…the high season is lively!