The summit of Lure as seen from the Abbey of Notre-Dame de Lure

Leave the D113, which climbs up to the old Lure resort, and follow a track on the right towards Notre-Dame de Lure Abbey; a car park is located about 800 m from the road.
See also “Practical Information” for setting off directly from the resort.

(S/E) Head towards the abbey, walk past it, then past its spring. Take the path that climbs to the right. The slope becomes a little steeper before reaching a plateau and descending into the Combe de Chavalet.

(1) Continue along the valley towards the north; the entire climb is in the shade of deciduous trees. After joining a path coming from the left, keep left for a few hundred metres to reach the Charbonnière de Chevalet junction.

(2) Turn right; the slope becomes steep again until you reach a meadow where the view opens up and there is a crossroads.
An alternative route is to turn left to return to the Combe de Morteiron: the elevation gain will then be 350 m.

(3) Continue straight on before changing valleys, descending slightly to reach the hamlet of Les Chaumettes
Alternative route: head up to the left to go directly to the summit via the “Aire du sommet de Lure” car park without following the ridges on the eastern side.

(4) In the hollow of the valley, head right, then immediately, after about ten metres, left, climbing up opposite. Arrive at Creux des Chamois.

(5) Continue climbing to the left, cross the road and reach the ridges.

(6) Turn left, following the signs for "Crête de Lure", to climb to the summit. You can’t miss it thanks to the antennas (military and civilian installations).

(7) Stay on the GR® and follow the signs for “Station de Lure”. Pass the “Les relais” signpost. Descend and head towards the road at a hairpin bend (panoramic car park). Continue along the ridge, climbing again. A few hundred metres further on, leave the GR® for a short distance to reach an orientation table opposite.

(8) Return to the^GR® and walk alongside the road for a short distance. At the signs for the "Vipère d'Orsini", turn right towards the rear of the Station de Lure. Join the D53 road.

(9) Cross the road, then head towards the buildings.

(10) At the “La Sauvagine” restaurant, head down to the left into the valley. Once in the valley, re-enter the forest, which you will not leave again, descending the Combe de Morteiron to the Abbey of Notre-Dame de Lure (S/E).

(S/E) Unmonitored water point in front of the abbey: the only source on the south-facing slope of Lure; dry toilet at the station.

Several alternatives
- Much shorter: at the "Charbonnière de Chavalet" (2) turn left towards the Lure station (350m elevation gain)
- Slightly shorter: at (3) continue straight on towards “Crête de Lure”.
- Option to start the hike from the resort (9).

Please note, the wind – and especially the mistral – is a significant factor: don’t forget to wrap up warm.
As with any ridge, take care with children; the northern slope is quite steep.

The summit of Lure is within a Natura 2000 area: there are numerous interesting information points near the road.

The Montagne de Lure remains a land of transhumance. The summit meadows of Lure host a flock of sheep for the summer grazing season from June to October
To ensure everyone – from the flocks (with their guard dogs) to the hikers – has their own space: the GAEC de Lure provides some really useful information on their website about the flock’s location: https://www.facebook.com/gaecdelure

(S/E) Notre-Dame de Lure Abbey: the church is the only surviving part of the Chalaisian monastery founded around 1160 at the head of a wild valley, at an altitude of 1,200 metres. In front of the abbey, a spring and a terrace shaded by walnut and lime trees, many of which are several hundred years old, set amidst a beech forest.
According to Tourisme Alpes de Haute Provence
Summer 2024: the church is currently undergoing renovation

(6) This is the first panorama: clear views to the east (the end of the Crêtes de Lure (Cairn 2000), Sisteron, the Valensole plateau, the Verdon).

Between (6) and (8) the view is 360°, with Sainte-Beaume, Sainte-Victoire and the Luberon to the south. The Haut Verdon and the Grande Séolane to the east. To the north, directly opposite, the Dévoluy with the Pic de Bure (where the observatory is visible to the naked eye), the Écrins and others. In the background, Mont Aiguille, the Grand Veymont, etc. To the west, Les Trois Becs, Mont Ventoux...

On the ridge near the summit, and down to the ski resort, you can see tall posts; these are used as guides to reach the antennas in the event of winter maintenance in snowy conditions.
Occasionally, small plaques describing planets can be found on these posts... here the sky is clear and Saint-Michel l’Observatoire is not far away.
In fact, behind (9) there is an observatory.
A tip: come on a Saturday to combine the hike with a public stargazing evening; do check the dates on the SAML website (Société Astronomique de la Montagne de Lure; a very enjoyable evening with enthusiasts)
From the resort, you can follow the ‘Planet Trail’

The former Lure ski resort: one of the first ski resorts in the Southern Alps, established in 1923
For those wishing to find out more about the resort’s old ski lifts, visit the ‘ghost resorts’ website
Or visit the ski lifts website