Lourmarin
Officially one of the 'most beautiful' villages in France, Lourmain is very special to Rochelle's family, almost their second home. After Nicole and Brendan's wedding at Chateau Lourmarin in 2019, it seemed fitting to continue the tradition. We wish for you to enjoy your trip here as much as possible, so here's some of our favourite things to do in the area.
Wine Tasting
Rochelle's perfect day is when Paul drives her wine tasting either in Stellenbosch or Provence. Though the Luberon is famous for Rosé, you can get fabulous reds and whites too. Just think about how you will get your wine home, or leave it in Stephen's cellar... at your own risk!
A few our favourite winery's:
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Château la Conorgue
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Château La Coste
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Domaine de Fontenille
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Château Val Joanis
Wine shops in Lourmarin:
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Les Caves Du Chateau
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Cave à Lourmarin
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Le Tonneau (wine bar)
Friday Market Day
Lourmarin hosts a fabulous market every Friday morning, with 150+ stalls selling food, clothes, art and more. We usually buy goodies here for a lunch feast of cheese, saucisson, olives and tomatoes. Find Tricia here for coffee or wine, she never misses a market day!​
Time: 8:00 - 13:00
Tip: Bring cash, most stalls accept card but ATM queues can be long.
Note: Cars are towed from Market area on a Friday morning, look out for parking signs to know where not to park on Thursday evening.
Dine, eat, indulge
You're in France so don't miss out on the incredible foodie experience. Paul's favourite dish and speciality of the region is magret de canard (duck breast). Lourmarin has over 15 restaurants, you will be spoiled for choice!
Favourites in Lourmarin:
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L'insolite
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Pizzeria Nonni
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Café Gaby
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Maison Reynaud
Restaurants in the region:
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Bistrot le 5 (photo above)
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Le Sanglier Paresseux
Explore the french coast line
Only one hour driving from the sea, you can explore more of the French landscape. Our two favourite and very different suggestions are the Camargue (delta landscape) and the Calanques (cliffs)
Camargue
Take a drive through the protected delta landscape to spot wild horses and flamingos. Have lunch with your feet in the sand at Farniente Plage or visit Aigues-Mortes, the medieval walled town.
Calanques & Cassis
Beautiful coastal town with spectacular cliffs. For adventurers we suggest to start at Cassis town and either hike or rent a kayak to Calanque d'En-vau. (we have done both)
Hilltop villages of Provence
With many cute villages nearby taking a biking trip or by car to visit them is a day well spent. Many of these towns are quite sleepy, but filled with great restaurants. If nothing else, to visit all the scenes from 'A good year' the movie.
Our Favourites:
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Bonnieux
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Cucuron (photo)
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Gordes
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Menerbés
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Rousillion
Suggestions:
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Bike from Lourmarin for a round trip. Ansois - Cucuron - Vaugines - Lourmarin
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Visit Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque before heading into Gordes
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Enjoy the View with a drink at Les Terrasses de Bonnieux
Can't live without Tennis?
Tricia introduced Paul to tennis on this court and he hasn't stopped since. He can't go a week without his racket so he will be up for a game around the wedding weekend. Courts can be rented per hour and private lessons can be arranged.​​
Don't forget your racket, Paul will need to shake off some nerves.
Buoux
Located on the north side of the Luberon, the town is known for the high cliffs that surround it, making it a popular venue for rock-climbing enthusiasts, as well as the ruins of a medieval fort that was built in the 13th century and destroyed in 1660.
There's a climbing shop in Lourmarin Village to get more information.