As my stylish, little, Italian designed, rental car nipped along the twisting curves of Provence’s Luberon Valley towards Lourmarin my heart skipped a beat in excited anticipation. Fields of lush vineyards flanked the narrow roadside, row after row of low lying bushes, their sun kissed leaves shading bunches of what looked like fat, black pearl earring clusters, drooping heavily to kiss the rich earth below them. The sky, although cloudless and bright had that feint hint of hazy pink and the air was perfumed with a musty, oaky, ‘wood barrel’ aroma so typical of a warm autumn afternoon by the vineyards. The road ended in front of a golden, stone, clay tiled, winery where I turned right. I slipped passed the gently swaying olive trees, their silvery green boughs almost waving in welcome and then round the corner was that view, so well remembered, that I knew couldn’t fail to make me gasp, I was back in my special place, in Lourmarin.
I had to stop to simply stare, and be utterly captivated, again!
Fiat in Lourmarin in the Luberon Valley, Vaucluse, Provence, France
Close by were yet more olive trees, so typical of Provence.
Olive trees, Lourmarin in the Luberon Valley, Vaucluse, Provence, France
The clock tower Lourmarin in the Luberon Valley, Vaucluse, Provence, France
Then we made our way along the beautiful leafy canopy shading the main road into this enchanting ‘beaux village de France’.
Entering Lourmarin in the Luberon Valley, Vaucluse, Provence, France
Having parked, we ambled through the bustling little village to collect our house keys.
In the village in Lourmarin in the Luberon Valley, Vaucluse, Provence, France
Mark, at Cafe Gaby was there to greet us with a warm welcome.
Cafe Gaby in Lourmarin in the Luberon Valley, Vaucluse, Provence, France
Glimpsing up the narrow cobbled streets, all seemed just as I left it.
Streets in Lourmarin in the Luberon Valley, Vaucluse, Provence, France
The shops just as enticing
Shopping in Lourmarin in the Luberon Valley, Vaucluse, Provence, France
and the roof top views just as beguiling,

Clay tiled roof tops of Lourmarin in the Luberon Valley, Vaucluse, Provence, France
no matter the direction you glanced.
Roof top view in Lourmarin, Luberon Valley, Vaucluse, Provence, France
It was a heavenly week sampling the local cheeses and vin rosé.
Rose wine Lourmarin in the Luberon Valley, Vaucluse, Provence, France
It is impossible to tire of touring the local the perched villages of the LuberonGordes;
Gordes in the Luberon Valley, Vaucluse, Provence, France
and the warm ochre hues of Roussillon.
Roussillon in the Luberon Valley, Vaucluse, Provence, France
Despite the relentless rain on our last day, the Lourmarin market still made a vibrant appearance,
Market day in Lourmarin in the Luberon Valley, Vaucluse, Provence, France
the highlight being its’ fat wheels of delicious french cheese,
French cheese in the Market in Lourmarin in the Luberon Valley, Vaucluse, Provence, France
and of course much more besides.
At the market in Lourmarin in the Luberon Valley, Vaucluse, Provence, France
As I tried to encapsulate this beautiful little place I wondered when I would be here again. Thank you to all my Provencal friends in Lourmarin for making me feel like I belong; Claudie, Mark, Simone, Valerie and Walter, you all know I will be coming back!

Download the printable The Lourmarin Travel Guide