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.
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.
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.