Christmas Shopping in Lourmarin

Lourmarin in December

It’s December and people everywhere are getting ready for Christmas. After weeks of blue skies and gentle warm days, it’s raining where I live in California and temperatures have plummeted. The puddles are splattered with the last remnants of autumn and the mornings are frosty with low lying mists hanging over the hills. Pumpkins have been cast aside replaced with Christmas sparkle, draped across rooftops and porches sometimes quite dramatically, beckoning in the Festive season.

And I know, in Lourmarin preparations for Christmas, le Fête Noël are also underway. I’m not going to be there but can imagine it, the bustle and excitement, the decorating, the cooking, shops bursting with enticement and my little street festooned with twinkling fairy lights.

Christmas Shopping

Lourmarin’s Friday morning market continues all year. The holiday-themed market the Grand Marché de Noël is usually the Sunday before Christmas. It’s a single-day festive event with 60+ market stalls, and perfect for last-minute shopping.

If you are really in the spirit look for holiday markets – Marchés de Noël – near Lourmarin.

Discover the charms of Bonnieux and it’s Festival de Crèches which runs through the Christmas period.

Rose de Bagatelle a women’s clothing and home decor shop is tucked away on one of Lourmarin’s charming alleys.

Teresa Gaik sources her antique Provencal linens at markets and brocantes. This experienced seamstress turns the fabric into beautiful home decor items. At KOT ~ Teresa Gaik discover pillows, throws, and other lovely things for decorating your home, or for gifts. 

Lavender wands and boules (balls) at La Maison FRANC.

Caroline Longstaffe

A traveller at heart, Caroline says she was most probably born under a wandering star. This English girl lives in California, but has a soft spot for France. After living in Provence for 18 months, she admits that she is now torn between the towns of Uzes and Lourmarin - she cannot decide which is her favourite. During her stay in Provence, Caroline launched her blog Shutters and Sunflowers. Her blog is about passion, about living the journey not waiting to get to the destination.