Circular Lurs, a hilltop village in Provence

The hike starts at the Roman bridge on the Route de Saint-Pons connecting Lurs and Ganagobie: there are two small car parks on either side of the bridge. To get there, leave the D4096, follow the D30 towards the Priory of Ganagobie for 300 metres, then turn slightly left and follow the Route de Saint-Pons.

(S/E) With your back to the Roman bridge, head south-west up the steep forest track towards Saint-Pons: yellow markings.

(1) After about 650 m of climbing and a long straight stretch, leave the path and take the track on the right. At the next junction, ignore the paths on the left and continue straight on to the Route de Saint-Pons: yellow markings.

(2) Turn right and continue until the first junction on the left. Leave Route de Saint-Pons, turn slightly left and then right to follow Chemin des Peyrons through magnificent old olive groves: yellow markings.

(3) At the right-angle bend, leave Chemin des Peyrons and continue along the path on the right through the olive grove and below the village of Lurs. At the next two junctions, continue to the right and you will come out on Montée des Oliviers at the first houses in Lurs. Admire the superb panorama over the Durance valley, the Verdon massif and the Alpes de Haute-Provence.

(4) Turn right onto Montée des Oliviers and then immediately left onto Rue de la Marine to reach Place du Monument.

(5) Continue your tour of Lurs by turning left onto Place de la Mairie, then taking Route de Serre to the visitor car park.

(6) Turn right and follow Chemin des Écritures, slightly below the road, offering a beautiful view of Montagne de Lure and the peaks of the Southern Alps. Return to the village centre via Chemin Vieux.

(5) Continue along Place du Monument, pass through the Clock Gate and visit the Church of Notre-Dame de Sainte-Croix. Continue along Rue de l'Église and reach Place du Château: white and red markings for the GR®653D.You can also complete your visit by strolling at your leisure through the beautiful, typical narrow streets of the old Provençal village.

(7) Descend along the left side of the ramparts of the old castle. Continue along the Promenade des Évêques, an alley lined with fifteen oratories built in 1864, leading to the charming Notre-Dame-de-Vie Chapel.

(8) Continue to follow the GR®, cross the Bois de la Baume via the main path which leads to a bend on a track at the edge of the fields.

(9) Immediately turn right onto the path that follows the GR®653D through an oak forest, descending through the Bois de Lurs: be careful, there is a small rocky escarpment.

(10) At the "Bois de Lurs" crossroads, turn left and follow the track for about 500 m to reach a wide forest track suitable for vehicles.

(11) Turn right and follow this forest road downhill for about 2.7 km, keeping to the GR® markings. The road winds around several bends and crosses various crossroads. Continue along this road to reach the Roman bridge (S/E).

My hiking equipment: mobile phone with active GPS, Visorando*** for reading gpx tracks and recording the route, good hiking boots.

Slideshow "Lurs, a hilltop village in Provence".

Lauzon Lurs Waterfall.
Ganagobie Priory.
Les Pénitents des Mées.
Forcalquier and Rochers des Mourres.