Lourmarin is another wonderful village in Provence, located in the department of Vaucluse, about 20 miles north and slightly west of Aix-en-Provence. It was the last village I visited on my summer trip in 2014. There’s a lot of history here as the village lies in a very important junction that for centuries has provided a gateway to the south of Luberon. Now home to about 1,100 permanent residents the small village has seen massacres, destruction, decline and rebirth over the last 500 years. The village itself is nice, though rather nondescript (compared to many others I have visited). The real attraction here is the “Château-Vieux,” an old castle first erected in the 15th century and added to over the years. Rescued from certain destruction in 1920 by Robert Laurent-Vibert and renovated during the 20th century, the castle is now home to a foundation, impressive library and summer program for artists. An impressive music hall features concerts on a regular basis. I had a great time exploring the castle and the village. A very worthwhile trip if you are in the area.
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