Discover Murs: building history and Carmentran

Geographical setting

Murs lies in the northern part of the Parc naturel régional du Luberon, at an altitude of 500 metres in the Monts de Vaucluse. The first detail places the village in the regional park, while the second gives its elevation and location in the Monts. When choosing a hotel in Murs, both points of reference provide a concise guide: the nature park and the altitude. Other topics include buildings dating from several centuries, the annual Carmentran festival, and a named natural and cultural heritage site.

Building history and architecture

The Maison natale de Crillon le Brave is a Renaissance extension of the Château de Murs. Louis des Balbes de Berton de Crillon, known as “le brave Crillon,” was born there in 1541. Today, the building houses Murs’s small village library. Thus, the building brings together architectural history, the story of a birth, and its present-day use. If you plan to visit the interior, check locally in advance to find out what options are available.

The Église Saint-Loup was built in the Romanesque style at the end of the 12th century and served both as a seigneurial chapel and as a church. This dual function adds the building’s religious purpose to its date. The Château de Murs was built in several phases between the 12th and 18th centuries. Here, the focus is not on a single construction period, but on a sequence of stages spanning several centuries. Comparing the two buildings therefore brings a clearly defined dual function together with construction spread over an extended period.

The Chapelle Notre-Dame also has an asymmetrical floor plan and an attached building. Its red render is associated with the nearby ochre quarries of Roussillon. These details concern its shape, the adjoining building, and the local connection associated with the red render. The Chêne de Murs, by contrast, is described using two measurements: its circumference is 6.80 metres and its height is 24 metres. The comparison shifts from a floor plan and render colour to the circumference and height of a tree.

Festival, heritage and travel

The Carmentran de Murs is a traditional festival held annually, usually in March. It includes a costumed musical procession and the trial of King Carmentran. The exact date may vary; if you want to plan your trip around the festival, check the date of that year’s event in advance.

The “Amonts des gorges de Véroncle” route is associated with a remarkable natural site, notable hydraulic remains, and rural heritage. This theme differs from the descriptions of the church and the château: it brings together nature, hydraulic remains, and rural heritage.

To travel from Apt, bus route 109 runs to the Mairie de Murs by prior reservation. Reservation procedures and deadlines may change; check the current requirements before travelling. If you plan to take this route, factor the reservation requirement into your travel preparations.

Discover more destinations: Blauvac, Villes-Sur-Auzon, Carpentras, Richerenches, Ansouis, Vaugines, Sivergues, Le Beaucet.

For the regional travel overview: Vaucluse.