Lourmarin
Between Avignon (60 km) and Forcalquier (60 km).
Lourmarin, a splendid village in the Vaucluse
Listed as "one of the most beautiful villages in France", Lourmarin nestles in the middle of vinyards, olive groves and almond trees. Very lively in summer thanks to its many café terraces, restaurants and Provencal shops, Lourmarin is one of the flagship villages of the Luberon Regional Park.
Lourmarin castle
There is a 15th and 16thc, castle that has peculiar stairs to see and magnificent apartments to admire (only the Renaissance part of the castle is open to the public).
Take a stroll through the beautiful village of Lourmarin
In the village you will notice the typical Mediterranean architecture in its winding narrow streets, lovely old restored houses, and well shaded public squares where you can immerse youself in the gentil Provencal ambience.
Albert Camus loved Lourmarin and Provence
The inhabitants will want to remind you that Albert Camus, winner of the Nobel Literature Prize, lived and wrote here. In fact he was buried in the Lourmarin cemetary (find more details at the end of this page).
In such esthetic surroundings and s lively an atmosphere, it is really the place to be in the Luberon in the summer months.
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!
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
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.
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.