Lourmarin

Lourmarin lies at the southern mouth of the only road cutting through the Luberon massif, which is why it was fortified. Its chateau has two parts: a fifteenth-century castle and a wing added from 1526 that brought Italian Renaissance forms into Provence for the first time, with a spiral staircase and a carved fireplace. Left ruined by the nineteenth century, it was bought and restored by an industrialist who left it as a residence for artists. Albert Camus bought a house here with his Nobel money and is buried in the village cemetery, as is Henri Bosco. A Friday market fills the streets.

What you actually see

• The Renaissance wing - the first Italianate chateau work in Provence.
• The Camus grave - a plain stone in the village cemetery.
• The Friday market - produce and crafts through the centre.
• The Combe de Lourmarin - the gorge road cutting the Luberon.

When to go

April to June and September to October; the Friday market is the busiest day. Summer is hot and the village is crowded with Luberon visitors. The chateau closes some winter periods.

Honest expectations

The village is affluent and expensive, with prices to match its reputation. Parking on market day is very difficult. The chateau is a modest visit compared with the Loire.

Nearby

Bonnieux lies north; Aix-en-Provence is south through the gorge.