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Murs

Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Vaucluse

Murs - Tourism, holidays & weekends guide in the Vaucluse
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Small village of Vaucluse, in the northern part of the Regional Natural Park of Luberon, Murs takes place on a promontory of the Vaucluse mountains, about forty kilometers from Avignon and its Palais des Papes. It stretches over more than 3000 hectares, halfway on the road leading from Apt to Carpentras.

Populated since the Middle Paleolithic, as evidenced by the remains found on site, the territory of Murs developed strongly over the following centuries, before suffering the siege of the Saracens in the 8th century. It was not until the Renaissance and the 17th century that the village again experienced an important period of prosperity. Mainly subsequently turned towards breeding, agriculture and charcoal production, Murs found itself in ruins in the 1950s following the abandonment of the inhabitants. The town will regain its dynamism a few decades later, notably with the construction of numerous tourist infrastructures.

Geographical information

MunicipalityMurs
Postcode84220
Latitude43.9517270 (N 43° 57’ 6”)
Longitude5.2418509 (E 5° 14’ 31”)
AltitudeFrom 240m to 805m
Surface area31.27 km²
Population424 inhabitants
Density13 inhabitants/km²
PrefectureAvignon (46 km, 57 min)
Insee code84085
IntercommunalityCC Pays d'Apt-Luberon
DepartmentVaucluse
TerritoryProvence
RegionProvence-Alps-French Riviera

Nearest cities & towns

Joucas5.5 km (11 min)
Lioux8 km (14 min)
Gordes10 km (18 min)
Roussillon12 km (18 min)
Goult13.9 km (23 min)
Saint-Pantaléon14.3 km (23 min)
Gargas14.6 km (19 min)
Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt14.8 km (21 min)
Venasque15.6 km (25 min)
Beaumettes15.7 km (24 min)
Cabrières-d'Avignon15.7 km (25 min)
Apt18 km (25 min)
Lacoste18.8 km (30 min)
Malemort-du-Comtat19.1 km (30 min)

Things to see and do

Built at the end of the 12th century, the Saint-Loup church was originally surrounded by a cloister. Romanesque in style, it has in particular in its interior a bust of an 18th century saint housing the relics of Saint Loup, Saint Lambert and Saint André the apostle, a processional cross in silver carved on a wooden core dating from the 16th century and listed in the Historical Monuments and an 18th century censer in a rare style.

Located at the top of the village, the castle of Murs was built between the 12th and 14th centuries. Abandoned in the 18th century after the horrors of the French Revolution, it was bought in the 19th century by Bruno Vayson who undertook a complete restoration. His descendants are the current owners of the building. Not open to public visit, it nevertheless unveils outside a dungeon, a Gothic chapel and an audience of justice.

Nearby, you can admire the Notre-Dame-du-Salut chapel from the first half of the 17th century. Former seigneurial chapel, it houses all the burials of the lords of Murs. A procession is organized there at the Ascension.

While strolling in the village installed not far from the Prealps, you will be able to also appreciate the old wash-houses, the wells, the fountains, the pumps or the crosses and the oratories.

On the marked hiking trails, you can discover the old bories, dry stone cabins from the 18th and 19th centuries and the Plague Wall. In dry stone, it stretches over twenty-seven kilometers in length and was built in the first half of the 18th century to protect the territory from the plague epidemic brought by boat from Marseille.

Nearly forty-five kilometers of hiking and cycling routes allow you to appreciate the cultural and natural heritage of the place. The village also offers other leisure activities such as tennis or swimming, as well as several artisan workshops, especially potters.

Places of interest

Monuments
Natural sites
Performance halls

Events and festivities

Survival of a long pagan tradition, then Christian, the Carmentran or carnival of Lent, is the great festive event of the village. It takes place in March with the program of costumed parades, a popular court to judge the carnival man, or musical entertainment.

The votive festival is held every first Sunday following August 15 with a very popular pétanque competition.

Photos

The village from the Apt road
The village from the Apt road
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Distant view of the village
Distant view of the village
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Entrance to the castle
Entrance to the castle
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Visits, leisure and activities nearby

Leisure activities

Last nameActivity typeRateCity
Bike hire at the foot of Mount Ventoux
Sports sensations45 € to 55 € Mormoiron (13.7 km)
Tour of a lavender distillery
Well-beingFreeSault (21 km)
Visit a lavender distillery
Local flavoursFreeSault (22 km)
Shopping at an artisanal nougat factory in Provence
Local flavoursFreeCaumont-sur-Durance (23 km)
Tour and wine-tasting at the Domaine Nais
Local flavours9 € Rognes (34 km)

Outings

Last nameOuting typeDifficultyDurationDeparture municipality
Beaumes Rouges Path
HikeEasy2:30Fontaine-de-Vaucluse (9.8 km)
Around the Comtat Venaissin
Village visitEasy2:00La Roque-sur-Pernes (11.1 km)
Courrejho (the courrée)
HikeEasy1:00Ménerbes (13.6 km)
Tour of Saint-Pons
HikeEasy4:00Bonnieux (14.8 km)
From the Spring to the Venice of Provence
Cycling itineraryEasy2:00L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue (15.4 km)

Restaurants

Bed & breakfasts

Vacation rentals

Campsites

Hotels

Your holidays
A hotel
A vacation rental
A bed & breakfast
A campsite
A leisure activity
A restaurant
A rental car
A plane ticket
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