The GR 100 runs from Vijon to Lurais; a very easy, 10 km hike also starts and ends there. There is also a sandy beach on the Creuse and buildings with medieval history. This offers different options for your stay, with hiking, seasonal swimming and culture to choose from as your main focus.
Hiking between a long-distance trail and a local route
The GR 100 long-distance hiking trail runs for 250 km through the Indre département, from Vijon to Lurais. From Argenton-sur-Creuse, it follows the Creuse, passing rocky cliffs and viewpoints over the valley before reaching Lurais. A shorter option is the “Balade à pied n°35 – La Creuse entre val et coteau.” This very easy hike starts and ends in Lurais, is 10 km long and takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes. The two options differ in both distance and the time information provided: an approximate duration is given for the shorter route, while the GR 100 describes a long route to Lurais. If you are planning a day of hiking, you can use the duration of the shorter route as a guide; the long-distance trail, on the other hand, passes through the département and follows the Creuse.
Plage de Lurais on the Creuse
Plage de Lurais is a sandy beach on the Creuse. Supervised swimming is available there in July and August. There are also play facilities for children and free hire of swimming equipment. Opening times and facilities may change; check these details before your visit, especially if supervised swimming or equipment hire is important to your plans. A visit to the beach is therefore a seasonal option, unlike the hike, whose duration is specified.
Church and Château de Lurais
The medieval Église Saint-Jean de Lurais has a cruciform ground plan and has been protected as a Monument historique since 1987. The Château de Lurais has also been protected since 1987. A monastic establishment at the Château is documented for 1217. The priory building was converted into an abbot’s residence and fortified in the late 15th or early 16th century. The history of the Château therefore includes both its early monastic connection and a later structural change. The church’s cruciform ground plan provides an architectural point of interest; it and the Château received protected status in the same year.
Château de Monteneaux: dating and keep
The present building at Château de Monteneaux does not appear to date from before the 15th century. The Château includes a square keep overlooking the Anglin. The dates given for the two châteaux refer to different things: 1217 concerns the monastic establishment at Château de Lurais, while the cautious dating of Monteneaux applies to the present building. This keeps the historical establishment and the dating of the building clearly distinct.
The FĂŞte des Barques on 23 August 2025
The FĂŞte des Barques took place in Lurais on 23 August 2025. About ten boats were decorated for the illuminated boat procession on the Creuse. A fireworks display was launched from the island and the bridge. The specific date gives this event a distinct historical connection within the history of the town.
Discover more destinations: Maillet, Lye, Sainte-Sévère-Sur-Indre, Ingrandes, Ecueillé, Lureuil, Giroux, Chaillac
For the broader travel overview: Indre.
