Holiday homes in Lourmarin

Lourmarin lies in the south of the Luberon, between the Petit and the Grand Luberon, where the combe de Lourmarin opens onto the plain. The village is one of the Plus Beaux Villages de France and you recognise it straight away by its three towers: the belfry, the church tower and the tower of the Protestant temple. Its château is regarded as the first Renaissance château of Provence. Foulques d'Agoult had it built in the 15th century, and a Renaissance wing was added in the 16th century. Rescued from ruin in 1921 by Robert Laurent-Vibert, it now hosts artists in residence. It is open all year, and children can follow a treasure hunt. The writers Albert Camus and Henri Bosco are buried in the village cemetery. Wander through the lanes to the église Saint-André-et-Saint-Trophime, which dates back to the 11th century. Every Friday morning, all year round, a big market fills the squares and avenues under the plane trees. Walkers can follow a path through the countryside to Cadenet.