A single-arch Roman bridge, old churches and paths overlooking the Durance Valley give Lurs a distinctive cultural character. There is also an unusual connection with typography: every year in late August, the Rencontres Internationales de Lure brings together people from the fields of design, publishing, printing, literature, education and research. In Lurs, architectural history and the development of writing and printing are both in the spotlight.
Lurs above the Durance Valley
Lurs sits like a balcony above the Durance Valley, with extensive olive groves shaping the surrounding landscape. The Promenade des Évêques offers views of the valley and the hills of the Luberon. Visitors interested in the village can enjoy two distinct perspectives: the landscape above the Durance and the historic buildings in the village. The promenade is also lined with fifteen oratories and leads to the Chapelle Notre-Dame de Vie.
Roman history at the Pont Romain
The Pont Romain is a single-arch bridge on the Via Domitia. It was built between 121 and 145 AD, at the beginning of the 2nd century, and was classified as a historic monument on 1 October 1963. This specific structure offers a way to trace both the Roman road network and the village’s long history. The Route Chemin des Évêques et Pont Romain is a separate route: it runs through the Parc naturel régional du Luberon, a protected natural area, and starts and ends at the visitor car park opposite the cemetery.
Churches, chapels and bell towers
The church in Lurs dates back to the 9th century. Its distinctive features include an ornately decorated portal and a comb-shaped bell tower with three bells. The clock tower of Lurs offers a different architectural accent, crowned by a wrought-iron campanile. The tower also houses the oldest bell in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department; it dates from 1599.
The two chapels tell different chapters in the village’s history. The Chapelle Notre-Dame de Vie was originally built in 1552 and rebuilt in 1662. The Chapelle Notre-Dame des Anges stands on the ruins of the Roman station of Alaunium and was built in the 12th century. It is freely accessible. Those exploring religious buildings in their historical context can bring together the Roman history of the area and medieval architecture at this specific site.
Routes with different themes
The Promenade des Évêques links the fifteen oratories with the Chapelle Notre-Dame de Vie, while also offering views of the Durance Valley and the hills of the Luberon. The Chemin des Écritures offers a different thematic approach: this playful, educational route focuses on the history of the alphabet and printing. The two routes therefore have different focuses—one on religious buildings and landscape, the other on writing and its history.
Typography and local cuisine
The Rencontres Internationales de Lure is devoted to typography as well as literary, visual and digital forms. Every year in late August, type designers, graphic designers, publishers, printers, writers, educators and researchers come together there. If you are planning a stay around the Rencontres, it is worth checking the dates of the event. The Chemin des Écritures explores the themes of the alphabet and printing; the Rencontres broaden this perspective to include the people and fields involved in writing and design.
La Terrasse de Lurs offers another facet of the village, serving dishes made with local, seasonal and often organic produce. Together with the olive groves, it provides insight into the village’s local character without reducing Lurs’s cultural identity to a single attraction.
Discover more destinations: La Brillanne, Montagnac-Montpezat, Oppedette, Le Lauzet-Ubaye, Peipin, Banon, La Condamine-Châtelard, Beaujeu.
For the broader travel overview: Alpes-De-Haute-Provence.
