Lurs: Roman Heritage, Routes and Typography

Lurs sits like a balcony above the Durance Valley, and extensive olive groves shape the landscape. For a trip focused on culture, Roman architectural history, sacred architecture and typography come together here. Specific points of interest include buildings, routes and cultural themes, each of which can be explored in a different way.

Roman History and Landscape

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 October 1, 1963. Its design, Roman context and precisely dated protected status offer different perspectives on the structure.

The Chemin des Évêques et Pont Romain route runs through the Parc naturel régional du Luberon. It starts and ends at the visitor parking area opposite the cemetery. This gives the route a clearly specified start and end point.

Routes, Chapels and Views

The Promenade des Évêques is lined with fifteen oratories and leads to the Chapelle Notre-Dame de Vie. From the promenade, there are views of the Durance Valley and the Luberon hills. The oratories, chapel and landscape views offer several different points of interest along the way.

The original Chapelle Notre-Dame de Vie was built in 1552 and rebuilt in 1662. The Chapelle Notre-Dame des Anges stands on the ruins of the Roman station of Alaunium. It was built in the 12th century and is freely accessible. The two chapels therefore differ both in their recorded building histories and in their connection to Lurs’ Roman past.

Churches, Bells and the Culture of Writing

Lurs’ church dates back to the 9th century. Its ornate portal and comb-shaped bell tower with three bells define its architectural character. Lurs’ clock tower is crowned by a wrought-iron campanile and houses the oldest bell in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department; it dates from 1599.

Every year in late August, Lurs hosts the Rencontres Internationales de Lure. Dedicated to typography and literary, visual and digital forms, they bring together type designers, graphic designers, publishers, printers, writers, educators and researchers. If you would like to plan your trip around the Rencontres, check the specific dates for your chosen year.

The Chemin des Écritures is a playful, educational route exploring the history of the alphabet and printing. It offers a different cultural focus from architecture and the Rencontres: here, writing and its history take center stage. This means you can include both individual buildings and themes of design and reading in your travel plans for Lurs.

Local Cuisine

La Terrasse de Lurs serves dishes made with local, seasonal and often organic produce. Seasonality is an explicit part of the restaurant’s described culinary profile; if this matters to your trip, you can ask about the current menu in advance.

Discover more destinations: Les Thuiles, La Motte-Du-Caire, Clamensane, Dauphin, Allos, Barcelonnette, Saint-Julien-Du-Verdon, Saint-Pons.

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