THINGS TO DO

Office de Tourisme:  The Tourism Office has an abundance of helpful brochures, maps, and up-to-date information about Lourmarin and the surrounding area.  It also offers walking tours of Lourmarin; check with the office for availability.  Tel: 04 90 68 10 77; Fax: 04 90 68 10 77; Email: ot-lourmarin@axot.fr.

Château de Lourmarin:   Open every day except Tuesdays, September-March; hours are 11:00-16:30 except July-August (10:00-17:30) and September (10:00-16:30).  Price is about 5 euro.  Tel: 04 90 68 15 23

Self-Guided Walking Tour:  The narrow streets of Lourmarin beg to be walked.  Pick up a map from the Office de Tourisme and put on your walking shoes.  We would recommend that you seek out the major attractions such as the Château, the Church of Saint André, the Protestant Church, and the belfry and clock, also called Le Castelas.  A good view of the latter may be found in the pretty place de Castelas; from this vantage point, keep walking toward it and you will be rewarded with a close-up view of the remains of its 11th century foundation.  There are at least five lovely fountains to discover, as well as a lavoir.  Albert Camus' house can be found on the street by the same name and the tombstones of both him and Bosco can be found in the cemetery on the periphery of the village.  There is plenty more to discover if you keep on walking.

Hiking:  Being the gateway to the Lubéron Natural Park, Lourmarin is a recommended base for hiking.  There is easy access to great hiking trails, some of which can be picked up in the village.  Others are just a short drive away.  Purchase a detailed map or hiking guide of the area and check with the Office de Tourisme, which may have guides.  Although most of the trails are developed for the "walker," there can still be difficulties along the trail and one should check with the Office de Tourisme for details.  Be aware that hunting season begins in September.

Sports:  In Lourmarin, there is tennis, mini-golf, biking, horseback riding, archery, boules, a soccer field, and a playground for children.  Nearby, there is hiking, squash, golf, fishing, and swimming.  (See the Office de Tourisme for more information.)

Wine Tasting:  Lourmarin is located in the heart of the Côte du Lubéron wine region, an appellation contrôlée that has existed just since 1988.  Most of the wine production takes place in cooperatives, but there are some outstanding wines produced by private domaines very close by.  The area is known for its red wines, but the white and rosé wines keep getting better and better.  To the north, you are a short drive from the Rhône Valley region, home of the prestigious Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines and our favorites, Gigondas and Vacqueyras.  To the south, you are a short drive to Bandol, an area known for its spicy rosés as well as its peppery reds. When touring the Lubéron region, stop by the Musée du Tire-Bouchon in the Domaine de la Citadelle in Ménerbes where you will find over 1000 corkscrews on display, some as old as 300 years and many in interesting as well as provocative shapes.

Cooking Lessons:  The French have set a culinary standard to which all other cuisine is measured.  When in France, why not hone your own gourmet cooking skills?  Two gastronomic restaurants, Le Moulin and La Fenière which are renowned for their exquisite Provençal dishes, offer cooking classes to the public.  (The classes are typically in French, but check to confirm and remember that cooking isn't dependent on words.) Call for more information.  (See "DINING" for more information.)

Marché:  Every Friday morning.

Enjoy the Provençal Lifestyle:  Life moves at a slower pace in the villages of Provence.  This may require some initial adjustment for those visitors accustomed to, for example, shopping or conducting bank business and post office interactions during the lunch hour.

Our unequivocal advice is to "go with the flow."  Besides really not having a choice, you may find that the pace sets the stage for interesting conversation, contemplation, imagination, and an appreciation for the details of life often overlooked in our complex, schedule-driven lives.  Find a good spot at Café Gaby or one of the other cafés along the rue de Henri de Savournin and watch the people.  And, by the way, "closed for lunch" doesn't mean they will reopen in an hour--it can be upwards of two to three hours for some shopkeepers.