Curel – Trails and a Stone Village

Curel is a small village with a stone-built character and a variety of outdoor activities. When choosing your destination, you can focus on hikes towards Montagne de Lure, walks in the surrounding area, or architecture and historical heritage. A circular trail to the remains of the former village brings these themes together in a particularly tangible way.

Trails around Curel

The Tour du Vieux Curel trail leads to the remains of the former village, follows shepherds’ paths, and then returns to Curel. Its distinctive feature is the way it connects the former settlement, shepherds’ paths, and a return to the village. If you choose a hike based on its destination and route, this trail brings together all three aspects.

Near Curel, the GRP Giono Montagne de Lure continues to Ravin de Combe Crue and the D 950. The difference from the Tour du Vieux Curel lies in the route: the circular trail returns to Curel, while the GRP continues from Curel to the two destinations. This makes it easy to distinguish a return to the village from continuing on to the places mentioned.

Curel is also a starting point for hikes towards Montagne de Lure. Walks around the village can pass old farmhouses and viewpoints. Cycling and hiking are possible on local roads and trails. While Montagne de Lure offers a direction for hikes, the farmhouses and viewpoints give walks a tangible connection to the surrounding area. Cycling adds another option for outdoor activities in the area.

Landscape and sky

Curel lies within the ZNIEFF Massif de la Montagne de Lure, a type 2 natural inventory area covering the Montagne de Lure massif. This connection to the landscape extends beyond individual trail destinations and places Curel within a natural inventory area centred on the massif. Curel is also classified as a Village Étoilé, inviting visitors to admire its particularly clear skies. Both its inclusion in the natural inventory and the views of the sky are therefore among the destination’s nature-related attractions.

Stone village and historical heritage

The stone village of Curel was recently restored and is distinguished by its harmonious architecture, lavender-coloured shutters, and quiet lanes. Its village character is also shaped by cobbled lanes, yellow-stone houses, and winding stairways. The materials, colour details, and layout of the lanes each define different aspects of the village. If you are interested in the architecture of a small village, these features offer a tangible way to appreciate its character.

The local historical heritage includes churches, distinctive houses, washhouses, and castles. These buildings and sites add further aspects of architectural heritage to the route to the remains of the former village. Curel can therefore be appreciated not only for its hiking trails, but also for its historical heritage and the stone-built character of the village.

Discover more destinations: Villars-Colmars, Authon, Saint-Andrè-Les-Alpes, Pra Loup, Sainte-Tulle, Ste.Croix-A-Lauze, Saint-Vincent-Les-Forts, Uvernet-Fours.

For the broader travel overview: Alpes-De-Haute-Provence.