Lorgues — a small, medieval village surrounded by wineries and olive trees — is nestled in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France.
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``This is the Provençal heartland of old villages in summer dress, of huge blue skies, herb aromas and old chaps playing boules late into the evening,`` said an admiring travel writer for The Telegraph.
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Lorgues offers the visitor many pleasures. Colorful houses, from pastels to bright hues, line its narrow, winding streets, where you'll discover ancient stairs and doorways with stone carvings. The center street, Boulevard de la Repúblique, is shaded on both sides by large plane trees, some of which are centuries old.
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Lorgues' 12th century towers, entry gates and walls of weathered gray stone remain from fortifications that once surrounded the village. Don't miss the 800-year-old clock and bell tower, which sat at the corner of Lorgues' defensive walls. In the center of town, stop in at the 18th century Collégiale St-Martin Church, one of the region's largest. The Fontaine de la Noix, built in 1771, features dolphins at each corner and, on one side, Lorgues' coat of arms.
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Modern-day delights abound, too, including lively restaurants, cafes, bars and shops — from gift shops and art galleries to supermarkets and clothing boutiques. Every Tuesday morning brings a bustling farmer's market, open in summer on Fridays as well.
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The area also affords plenty of opportunities for horse riding, hiking, bicycling and bungee jumping or canoeing in the nearby Gorges du Verdon. Wine lovers will enjoy the stellar vineyards surrounding Lorgues. As our guests, you'll find a few of our favorite day trips in your guest guide.
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It's easy to get here. By car, Lorgues is about an hour from St. Tropez, an hour and 15 minutes from Nice and 90 minutes from Marseilles. All depending on traffic, of course. And, it is only a 20 minute drive to Lorgues from the Gare Les Arcs-Draguignan, where you can catch the TGV express train to Paris.
