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Lourmarin

Vaucluse Department
Population: 1 221 people (2005)

Lourmarin, at the entrance of the Coomb of the same name, is situated at the Luberon's feet, mountain made by contrasts and by light.

This village remains peaceful and quiet in its harbour of greenery where get involved the strong and fascinating smells of Provence.

It tightens in snail, in narrow and sinuous alleys, around the rocky spur of " Castellas", the belfry (current clock), built on the stratum of the ancient medieval castle.

One will not wonder in the first look, that Lourmarin is a part of the very closed circle of the " most beautiful villages of France".

Lourmarin and its Provençal charm

Lourmarin was, from the XIth century, an important commercial stage. Then, plunders and plague chased away the inhabitants (XIVth century). About 1470, the lord of the place, Foulques d’Agoult baron of Sault, lord of Barret and la Tour d’Aigues, came to the village, left by Waldensian families, to repopulate it and to provide the exploitation of lands.

The guest will be struck by the Mediterranean architecture : the magnificent belfry, said "box of salt", the fountains, the restored Romanic church, the temple, sober building finished in 1816. Lourmarin, a village will hold your attention during your holidays in the Luberon.

Around the village bastides from the XVIth and XVIIIth centuries, and naturally the castle " Villa Médicis de Provence" : this one includes two parts, the most ancient dates from the XVth century.

Lourmarin in the shadow of Camus...
"The Foreigner"'s father rests in these faithful places where he had bought a house. Alleys in snail, sculptured fountains, places where one forgets time... Lourmarin appears discreetly from an animated rocky landscape, as a promise of relief.

Monuments

Photo image paysage villages : Lourmarin Luberon Provence, église Saint André

- Saint André's Church

For a long time connected with Saint André's priory of Villeneuve les Avignon, Lourmarin's church occupied a long time a dominant position in the South Luberon. Now, it is part of Aix en Provence's diocese.

Built in the XIth century, some tracks remain as the romanic arcatures but they are especially rib vaults which give its gothic style to the building.
Agoult-Montauban built in the church the "Lord's Chapel" in the XVth century.

Photo image paysage villages : Lourmarin Luberon Provence, la Fontaine de la Place de Lourmarin

- The Fountain of the Square

The small square of the village welcomes a fountain with crystal clear water, which is the most ancient fountain of Lourmarin.

Eugène Bounot, mayor of time who loved his village of the Luberon, managed in 1914 to fulfil his fondest wish: classify the Fountain "Ancient Monument".

Around the fountain one can make a break to quench thirst in a terrace of cafes.

Photo image paysage villages : Lourmarin Luberon Provence, le chà¢teau de Lourmarin

- Lourmarin's Castle

Built on a cape, Lourmarin's castle leans on a former fortress from the XIIth century. It is in 1470 that Foulques d´Agoult, baron of Sault, said to a Waldensian's colony to come from Piémont. This colony settled down in the village. Foulques d'Agoult began in 1475 to build the "Old Castle" flanked with a small polygonal tower in the north.
The octagon tower in the west was added about 1524.

The Part " New Castle " (1526 - 1560) in the Italian speed, is completed with a quadrangular tower sheltering a stair of 93 walking with double twist. This tower conceals numerous Companions' secrets : sculptured motives and signatures.

At the beginning of the XXth century, the castle then in ruin, knew a new fate, thanks to a rich manufacturer's interest . A colossal restoration led in the 1920's that will make it an artistic and literary home in Provence, then a Foundation.

Visits :
Every day : 10 am to 11.30 am and 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm
Saturday and Sunday : 10 am to 11.30 am and 2.30 pm to 5 pm

Rates :
Adults : 5,50 €
Students : 3 €
Groups : 4,50 €
Children : 2,50 €

Photo image paysage villages : Lourmarin Luberon Provence, le beffroi de Lourmarin ou " boite à sel "

- The Belfry or "Box of salt"

By arriving in Lourmarin, the guest perceives a clock inserted into a wall : the belfry is also called "box of salt".

In fact, this place was a castle of clod, base of a first feudal influence known at the year one thousand.
Today, it is a church tower - wall built in the XVIIth century on the vestiges of the feudal castle which shelters a bell (70 cms in diameter), melted in Carpentras by J-L Romain in 1732.

The whole site was classified Ancient Monument in 1942.

Photo image paysage villages : Lourmarin Luberon Provence, fontaine de la place de l´église

- The founatin of the Church Square

Fountain of Néoroman style built in 1849 which one discovers by moving towards Saint André's Church Square by the picturesque alleys.

A muzzle of lion decorates the central part of the fountain by where pours a clear water. This one is not without making think of the present ornaments on the leaves of the doors of town houses from the XVIIth century.

Photo image paysage villages : Lourmarin Luberon Provence, Temple Protestant du XIXème

- The Protestant Temple

It was in 1806 that the first stone of the Lourmarin's Protestant Temple was put halfway between the village and the castle.
The plan of the Temple will be confided to an architect from Marseille, M-R Penchaud, and works confided to a local building contractor.

A monumental organ dating from 1840 and due to the factor Augustine Zieger can be there admired.

Events

Useful addresses

- City Hall :
rue Henri Savornin, 84160 Lourmarin
Tel 04 90 68 04 13
Fax : 04 90 68 26 46
Mail : mairie@lourmarin.com

- Tourist Office
9 avenue Philippe de Girard, 84160 Lourmarin
Tél./Fax : 04 90 68 10 77

- Anne-Marie Chapouton's Municipal Library
Place H. Barthélémy

- Recreation Committee
City Hall - 84160 - Lourmarin
Tél : 04 90 68 08 85

Site map

Lourmarin plan d´accès Carte Luberon

Access

Coming from Avignon by highway A7 exit 26 Sénas - Lambesc, take N7 during 6 km, direction Mallemort by D23, go on towards Mérindol then once on D973 towards Cadenet - Pertuis , turn on the left on D27 to Lourmarin.

Coming from Apt or Bonnieux take D943 and Lourmarin's Coomb.

Distance from towns

Puyvert > 2.5 km, Cadenet > 5 km, Vaugines > 5 km, Lauris > 5 km, Cucuron > 7.5 km, Ansouis > 10 km, Bonnieux > 12 km, Buoux > 12 km, Puget sur Durance > 11 km, Villelaure > 12 km, Sannes > 12 km, Cabrières d'Aigues > 13 km, La Motte d'Aigues >15 km, Mérindol > 15 km, La Roque d'Anthéron > 15 km, Silvacane Abbey > 15 km, Rognes > 17 km, Le Puy Sainte Reparade > 17 km, Pertuis > 18 km, Lacoste > 18 km, Apt en Provence > 19 km, Peypin d'Aigues > 21 km, La Bastidonne > 21 km, Mallemort > 21 km, la Tour d'Aigues > 23 km, Grambois > 23 km, Roussillon > 25 km, Vitrolles en Luberon > 25 km, Mirabeau > 28 km, Menerbes > 28 km, Gordes > 29 km, Oppede le Vieux > 29 km, Rustrel > 29 km, Colorado Provencal > 30 km, Cavaillon > 32 km, Sénanque Abbey > 33 km, Cereste > 37 km, Fontaine de vaucluse > 38 km, Pierrevert > 38 km, Isle sur la Sorgue > 39 km, Saumane de Vaucluse > 39 km, Salon de Provence > 40 km, Aix en Provence > 41 km, Reillanne > 43 km, Simiane la Rotonde > 43 km, Banon > 51 km, Saint Remy de Provence > 53 km, Greoux les Bains > 53 km, Sault > 55 km, Aéroport Avignon > 55 km, Manosque > 61 km, Avignon TGV Train Station > 67 km, Avignon > 69 km, Marseille > 69 km, Marseille Provence Airport > 70 km, Orange > 75 km, Arles > 85 km, Pont du Gard >95 km, Nimes > 115 km, Saint Tropez > 177 km, Cannes > 189 km, Nice > 224 km, Bandol > 107 km, Sanary sur mer > 109 km, Cassis > 87 km