Feb 14, 2023 | Written by Madisyn Welborn
Lourmarin
When I can, I like to prioritize silence. There are about 16 people in total on the daytime village trips I participate in, and while I enjoy their company, I always do my best to break away. There's something so special about experiencing a place for the first time with only the voice in my head making suggestions about the world before me.
While the drive to Lourmarin was flooded with music, laughter, and gasps at the sharp winding road, the following hours welcomed a form of tranquility I desperately needed. At the edge of the village, visitors gathered amongst cafes and restaurants, but they cease to exist in the streets that follow. Within the alleyways and passages of Lourmarin, residencies blend with boutiques, tea shops, and overgrown vines. The loudest sound apart from the birds above was my sneakers against the pavement as I strolled blindly.
After exiting the alleyways, I spent a couple of moments with a rather photogenic cat and then made my way to the Château. While my original plan was to enter the Château for a miniature history lesson, I found myself spending the rest of my time in Lourmarin wandering the rest of the Château grounds. (Side note: one of my favorite classes I've taken in college has been anthropology, which directly resulted in my slight obsession with plant ethnography.)
Outside of the Château was one of the largest olive groves I've seen during my time in France. As I walked through the grove, I watched a young girl and dog play in the distance as the father called for their return. Along the pathway, I took to return to my Lourmarin starting point came a final surprise for the visit: cacti. Another unexpected natural french occurrence; I clearly didn't do enough research.
In total, I wandered through Lourmarin for about two hours, each minute better than the one before. While I crossed paths with a few faces during my visit, foreign and familiar, the overall mood remained undisturbed. A perfect visit to a perfect village.
