Lourmarin
Between Avignon (60 km) and Forcalquier (60 km).
Lourmarin, a splendid Vaucluse village
Nestled among vineyards, olive groves and almond trees is the village of Lourmarin, which has been designated “one of the most beautiful villages in France”. Lourmarin is one of the Luberon's must-visit villages, with its many café terraces, restaurants and Provencal boutiques. It was here that Albert Camus and Henri Bosco chose to settle, captivated by the soul of this ancient medieval town. Discover all Lourmarin's secrets
Lourmarin castle
Lourmarin boasts a 15th-16th-century château with curious staircases and magnificently furnished apartments (only the Renaissance part of the château is open to the public). From the château, you have a superb view of the whole village and the Luberon mountains.
Take a stroll through the beautiful village of Lourmarin
In the village, you'll be struck by the typically Mediterranean architecture of the site: narrow, winding streets, beautiful old houses with facades restored using local materials, and always a small shady square where you can soak up the gentle atmosphere of beautiful Provence.
Albert Camus loved Lourmarin and Provence
Locals like to point out that Albert Camus, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, lived and wrote here. His house is located in the now aptly named “Rue Albert Camus”. Camus is buried in the village cemetery, and it's traditional for admirers to place a small pen on his grave.
Where to dine in Lourmarin?
There are several very pleasant restaurants in Lourmarin. For fine dining, we recommend the "Le Moulin" restaurant in the heart of Lourmarin. Just next door in Lauris, the gourmet restaurant Domaine de Fontenille is a marvel. For a simpler family meal, the Thai restaurant on the outskirts of Lourmarin (towards Bonnieux) is very pleasant, as is the pizzeria at the start of rue Albert Camus.
Original activities in and around Lourmarin
Together with our local guide friends, we've come up with some original ideas for activities to keep you entertained during your stay in Lourmarin. Click on the links below to find out more and discover all the activities available in the area. As you'll see from the various reviews, our participants loved it!
Our map of Lourmarin
To find your way around the village of Lourmarin, you can use our interactive map, which you'll find on this page. It shows all points of interest in the village (church, castle, cemetery...) as well as our recommendations for accommodation in the commune. We update this selection of accommodations every year to offer you the best options for your vacation in Lourmarin.
What to see
"Boite a Sel" belfry. Romanesque church Saint André.
Listed temple. Villa Medicis de Provence Castle (16th c.).
Provencal bastides (16th, 18th c.).
Numerous art galleries
Leisure activities
Truffle hunting in English with a guide and his dogs.
Friday morning market.
Hiking. Horseback riding. Mountain biking.
Swimming pool. Tennis. Archery. Minigolf.
Petanque lessons (see above on this page).
Summer events: Theater, concerts, conferences, exhibitions, local fairs.
Bed and breakfast
Bed & breakfast 300m from the village center. 4 comfortable guest rooms
Secured Sw.Pool (12m x 6). Covered summer kitchen. Parking. TV & wifi. Quiet, in a large garden overlooking the Luberon
Bed and breakfast - 5 charming guest rooms with private terrace. Heated Swimming pool - Spas - Fridge - BBQ
4 large bed & breakfast in separate little house with ground floor access on a private landscaped 6.2 acre park
Heated swimming pool. Air-conditioning. King size beds. Private garage
4 spacious charming bed and breakfast in a beautiful bastide carefully renovated on a beautiful estate of 90 acres. Luxury bedding.
Swimming pool. Parking with reload for electric cars
Holiday rentals
300m from the center 1 Charming independent stone cottage 2 to 4 pers.
XVII° cent tastefully renovated - Swimming pool - Garden - Very quiet
Charming cottage for up to 6 persons carefully furnished. Swimming pool with panoramic view on the Luberon, on a 1,5 hectares estate
Campings
4* campsite 800m from the center of Lourmarin. Mobile home rentals with or without jacuzzi. Large heated swimming pool of 300m2. Aquatic area with slides. Paddling pool. Entertainment. Restaurant.
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Accomodations
Hotels.
Bed and breakfast.
Vacation rentals.
Campsite.
Your questions about Lourmarin
Here are different questions we received about the village of Lourmarin. Do not hesitate to contact us if you have other requests.
Where is Albert Camus' grave?
Albert Camus' grave is in the Lourmarin cemetery, just outside the village in the direction of Lauris. Once inside the cemetery, the tomb is in an alley on the left of the cemetery. It's a very simple, very poetic grave, and many visitors leave pens, messages and flowers there. It is a place of pilgrimage for lovers of Albert Camus.
Why is Albert Camus buried in Lourmarin cemetery?
Understandably, Albert Camus fell in love with the village of Lourmarin! It was his friend Henri Bosco who introduced him to the village. Camus bought a property there, now called "rue Albert Camus", where his family still lives. It was a pretty flat in the centre of Lourmarin with a superb view of the Château de Lourmarin and the Luberon massif. Camus died in a car accident on 4 January 1964 while travelling between Lourmarin and Paris, the car being driven by his publisher Michel Gallimard.
WHAT TO DO IN LOURMARIN ?
There are many things to do in Lourmarin. First of all, the tradition is to stroll in the small streets of the village center and to stroll in the various stores of local products (lavender, herbs of Provence...), of interior decoration and in the galleries of many artists. We stop to have a drink in one of the numerous cafés with terrace of the village. Then we go up in the lanes of Lourmarin, we pass in front of the house of Albert Camus, we go to see the wash-house which was recently renovated and from the top of the village, we have a very beautiful sight on the castle of Lourmarin and on the chain of Lubéron. After having eaten in one of the many excellent restaurants of Lourmarin, we will visit the castle of Lourmarin: the guides are excellent and retrace with pedagogy the medieval and modern history of the village of Lourmarin. In season, there are many shows in the courtyard of the castle (concerts, open-air cinema, theater...) and animations in the heart of the village. The cemetery of Lourmarin at the exit of the village towards Lauris is also a place of pilgrimage for the admirers of Albert Camus, the popular tradition is to deposit a small pen on his grave.
WHEN IS THE MARKET OF LOURMARIN ?
The market of Lourmarin takes place every Friday morning from 8 am to 1 pm. It is a beautiful market with many local producers that takes place throughout the year. During the summer, it is advisable to go to the Lourmarin market early in the morning, as the tourist crowds are large and the beauty of the market is best enjoyed between 8 and 9:30 am. Also be careful with parking in Lourmarin on market days. It is better to park at the entrance of the village and walk the last few meters rather than trying to find a place near the market.
IS IT PLEASANT TO LIVE IN LOURMARIN ALL YEAR ROUND ?
Lourmarin is a beautiful village in all seasons. While the village is very popular in the summer, this allows the local businesses to thrive and remain open all year round. If you like Provencal villages, if you don't mind the crowds in the summer, and if you can afford it because it's a very popular village, living in Lourmarin all year round is very pleasant.
