Lourmarin, Provence, France
Lourmarin is located in Provence, at the foot of the Luberon massif. It is located near Cadenet and Bonnieux. This is a very picturesque town which attracts many tourists. Interesting features are following: the old town, a very beautiful Renaissance castle, old houses and churches. In the town lived and worked Albert Camus, Nobel laureate in literature. He was buried in the local cemetery.
Parking in Lourmarin
In the town you can park either at the castle (P1; GPS: 43.764184, 5.359827), or a street leading to it (P2; GPS: 43.764425, 5.361501), or a larger parking lot nearby the D943 road (P3; GPS: 43.765581, 5.363722) - note that from here you have about 500 meters to the castle.
Château de Lourmarin
Visiting the castle in Lourmarin (A; GPS: 43.764369, 5.358965), which was built in the twelfth century as a fortress, and then transformed into the current state in the fifteenth century, is a great way to learn about local history and get acquainted with a good example of Renaissance architecture of Provence. The castle is in very good condition. It's surrounded by a park and olive plantations. Between the castle and the town you can see a vast meadow. From the terrace you have a beautiful view of Lourmarin and the surrounding area. The gardens can be visited for free. The admission to the castle costs 6.8€ for adults and 4€ for students. Young people in age between 10-16 years pay 3€, children under 10 years of age enter for free (as of 2016). Very impressive is the spiral staircase. You can explore only eight rooms, but each of them is very huge comparing to current standards. Imagine how difficult it was to warm them in the winter, which in Provence is rather cool, especially when the mistral is blowing.
The Old Town
After visiting the castle you can go to the nearby old town. There are many small boutiques located in town houses along narrow streets divided by shaded squares, so we are dealing with a typical architecture of the south of France. If you are interested in visiting the local market, you should arrive on Friday morning, and then head for the tree-lined avenue located in the center of the village.
Cadenet
If you have some time, you can go to the nearby village of Cadenet, located not far away from Lourmarin because only about 5 km. You can park the car in the parking lot nearby the center (P4; GPS: 43.733658, 5.377304). Then you can visit the old church of Saint-Etienne from the twelfth century, streets with old houses, as well as a monument commemorating the Tambour d'Arcole (B; GPS: 43.734657, 5.373659) - a teenage André Estienne, who as a military drummer fought alongside Napoleon and helped him to conquer the bridge on the river Alpone during the war with Austria in 1796. Additionally, on top of the hill we have the castle ruins and stunning views of the surrounding countryside. The ruins contain many underground passages and caves.
See also: