No need to cross the Alps to soak up the bewitching atmosphere of Tuscany.
The influence of the Italian Renaissance has left an indelible mark on the architecture and landscapes of certain villages in France. From the roofs of red tiles and ocher to the Romanesque churches, including the shaded plates where old fountains are sorting, these unsuspected villages of France reveal the tunes of Dolce Vita, far from the beaten track. We set off to discover this French nugget which breathes the soul of Tuscany.
There are hills lined with olive and almonds, vineyards as far as the eye can see, parasol pines and slender cypress, and in the heart of this bucolic setting, a perched village bathed in light … You are not in Tuscany, but in one of the most beautiful and the most secret villages in France. The journey begins in its paved alleys winding between the stone houses where each ocher facade of the 18th century seems straight out of a painting of the Italian Renaissance. The village square, shaded by hundred -year -old plane trees, offers a haven of peace where time seems suspended. The village bell tower stands out on an azure sky.
Welcome to Lourmarin, nestled in the heart of the Luberon: a concentrate of Tuscany in Provence! Its castle, nicknamed “La Petite Villa Médicis de Provence”, stands proudly on a hill, offering a breathtaking view of the surrounding landscapes which are reminiscent of the Chianti valley, between Florence and Siena. The “great elegance” of the Château de Lourmarin is symbolized by its Italian loggia and its towers and galleries with harmonious proportions evoking the Italian architecture of the Renaissance.
In Lourmarin, gastronomy is an art of living: we soak up the conviviality of coffee terraces and let ourselves be charmed by the sunny cuisine of restaurants. Provencal markets are full of local products (goat cheese, lavender honey, olive oil) and vineyards produce wines that compete with the great Tuscan wines.
No wonder the writer and philosopher Albert Camus made Lourmarin his place of inspiration and his refuge. It is also possible to meditate on his grave in the cemetery near the Saint-André church in Lourmarin, where he rests next to the novelist Henri Bosco, who nicknamed this “most charming village in the Luberon” like the “Bastion of Poetry”.
Tempted by a getaway in Lourmarin? To offer you this secret vita dolce, prefer the car. Lourmarin is accessible via departmental roads such as the D943 and D27. The closest cities are Aix-en-Provence and Avignon, reachable by the A7 and A51 motorways but also served by the TGV. From these stations, you can rent a car or join Lourmarin by bus.