Murs
Last update on
Aug 19, 2026
On the D4, between Apt (18 km) and Carpentras (26 km).
Discover the lovely village of Murs in the Luberon
Murs is a charming village near Gordes, and you’ll leave feeling as though you’ve discovered a well-kept secret.
This village in the Vaucluse clings to a hillside at an altitude of 500 meters in the Monts de Vaucluse. Here you’ll discover a medieval castle with its crenellated keep, the 12th-century Romanesque Church of Saint-Loup, the birthplace of Crillon le Brave, and the “plague wall”—a long dry-stone wall erected in 1720.
The village has a population of about 410.
Surrounding the village, the Luberon Regional Nature Park unfolds with its gorges, orchards, and trails. Tourism plays a much smaller role here than in neighboring towns. Same scenery, half the crowds: that’s what makes Murs so special.
The Castle of Murs
As you arrive in the village, the first thing you’ll see is the restored castle overlooking Murs.
Built in the 12th century by the d’Agoult family and restored several times, the castle stands with its fortified walls, round towers, and crenellated keep at the top of the village—it remains privately owned and is not open to the public.
The Birthplace of Crillon “the Brave”
Then, as you stroll through the village streets, very close to the church, you can visit the birthplace of the comrade-in-arms of the famous Henry IV: the brave Crillon. His house dates from the 13th century and has been converted into a small prehistoric museum.
The Plague Wall
You can also take a stroll along the “Plague Wall,” an astonishing 25-kilometer-long dry-stone wall built in 1721 to protect the Comtat Venaissin from the plague epidemic brought to Marseille by ship.
Hiking and tourism around Murs
Surrounded by stunning landscapes, Murs offers beautiful hiking trails (especially around the Véroncle mills). For example, you can hike to the Bérigoule Caves or the Col des Trois Termes. A caving club is based in Murs and can provide information and guide you through the caves; be sure to contact them in advance.
The Col de Murs
A beautiful, winding road will also take you on a pleasant drive to the Col de Murs, at an elevation of 626 meters, and the village of Venasque, passing through magnificent gorges and a forest. The view of the Monts du Vaucluse is breathtaking.
Looking for a good restaurant in Murs?
You’ll find a few Provençal restaurants in the center of the village of Murs. It’s a great opportunity to enjoy a meal in a charming little Provençal village.
Where to stay in Murs?
Staying in Murs for your vacation is an excellent idea. This charming little village is very relaxing and perfectly located for visiting the more famous villages of Gordes and Roussillon (where accommodations will be much more expensive). In Murs, you’ll find a hotel, bed-and-breakfasts, and vacation rentals. We’ve listed our top picks further down this page. For camping enthusiasts, the VVF Villages de Murs is a very pleasant option.
What to see
Birthplace of "Crillon le Brave".
12th century Roman church.
Chapel ND du Salut.
The Veroncle gorges.
The "[Mur de la Peste](https://passadoc.fr/histoire-vaucluse-mur-peste/ (in French)")" (The Plague wall).
Things to do
Hiking, mountain biking, tennis and swimming pool.
Arts, crafts and cultural festivals.
Village festival, third Sunday in August.
Hotels
Hôtel Le Crillon
★★★
The charming Hôtel Le Crillon occupies a 15th-century building in the village of Murs, near the Lubéron. It offers rooms with TV and private bathroom. Some of Le Crillon's rooms feature a private lounge or terrace.
120€ - 150€
Bed and breakfast
Featuring free Wi-Fi, a seasonal outdoor pool and a sun terrace, the suberb B&B Les Jardins d'Eleusis offers pet-friendly accommodation in Murs. Free private parking is available on site.
80€ - 150€
Vacation rentals
Located in Murs, the beautiful Mas La Rose Sauvage offers accommodation with a private pool, garden views and a balcony. This air-conditioned villa features 5 separate bedrooms, a living room, a fully equipped kitchen and 5 bathrooms.
Airbnb
Discover our selection of houses, villas and apartments on Airbnb for an authentic stay in this Provençal village. You will love your vacation here.
Campsites
The vacation village of Murs, with its beautiful swimming pool, is located in the heart of the Luberon regional nature park. It welcomes you to an exceptional natural and green setting, ideal for a relaxing and rejuvenating vacation. It's also the ideal starting point for discovering the Provencal Colorado at Roussillon.
Accommodation
Hotels.
Bed and breakfast.
Vacation rentals.
Campsite.
Your questions about the village of Murs
You’ve sent us several questions about this charming village in the Luberon. Here are our answers to your most frequently asked questions.
How do you visit Murs?
Visiting Murs takes half a day, on foot and at an easy pace. The village is explored through its sloping lanes: park at the entrance, then walk up toward the castle and the church. Tourism in Murs stays low-key, which makes all the difference compared with Gordes or Roussillon. No lines, no souvenir shops, a few Provençal restaurants in the center and that's it. To see Murs at its best, come in the morning or late afternoon, when the light skims the stone and the view opens onto the Vaucluse mountains. Spring and fall are the best seasons, since summer can get very hot up on the plateau. Things to do in Murs come down to three words: walk, look, listen. A stay in Murs works as a base camp: you sleep in complete quiet and drive out to the neighboring villages.
What is the history of Murs?
The history of Murs begins very early. The site was devoted to mining and knapping flint back in prehistoric times, and the Mousterian deposit at Bérigoule has yielded tools dated by thermoluminescence. The village then took shape around its castle. The Agoult family built it in the 12th century, expanded it at the end of the Middle Ages, and abandoned it after the Revolution. In 1541, Louis des Balbes de Berton de Crillon, known as the brave Crillon, was born right here, in a Renaissance wing that now houses the village library. The heritage of Murs also carries the mark of great collective fears. The plague wall, built of dry stone in 1720, crosses the northern edge of the territory and was meant to protect the Comtat Venaissin from the epidemic that arrived in Marseille. Murs and the Second World War is a quiet story. The village came through the conflict undamaged and occasionally sheltered resistance fighters. In the summer of 1944, shots were fired from the castle as a German detachment passed through, with no arrests and no reprisals. Historic Murs nearly disappeared all the same. By the 1950s the village lay in ruins, and rural exodus almost turned it into a ghost village, until successive mayors rebuilt the collapsed walls.
What are the tourist sites in Murs?
The tourist sites of Murs are packed into a few hundred yards. The castle dominates the village with its fortified enclosure, round towers and crenellated keep, though it remains private and is not open to visitors. The Romanesque church of Saint-Loup, from the 12th century, backs onto its castle chapel. Its treasury holds an 18th-century reliquary bust and a censer of which only two other examples exist in France. Visiting Murs also means walking past the birthplace of the brave Crillon, with its 13th-century facade. The chapel of Notre-Dame-de-Salut, Romanesque in origin and rebuilt in the 17th century, holds the tombs of the lords of Murs. Among the attractions in Murs, the living ones are often overlooked. The village's centuries-old oak stands 78 feet tall with a circumference of 22 feet. Tourism in Murs means cultural heritage without staging: nothing is reconstructed, everything has stayed where it was.
Where is Murs located?
Murs is located in the Vaucluse, in Provence, in the heart of the Vaucluse mountains. The village sits in the western part of the range, halfway along the D4 between Apt and Carpentras. Its setting is unusual: the village stands at 1,640 feet of elevation, on the edge of a rift valley running northeast to southwest. The highest point in the commune reaches 2,635 feet and opens up a wide panorama. Murs borders Gordes, Joucas and Roussillon to the south, Saint-Saturnin-lès-Apt and Lioux to the east, Venasque and Méthamis to the north. On the map, the commune sits well back from the main tourist routes. Count 5 miles to Gordes, 7 to Roussillon, 11 to Apt and 32 to Avignon. Murs in Provence is silence, ten minutes from the crowds.
What activities can you do in Murs?
Things to do in Murs start right at the edge of the village. The Véroncle gorges link Gordes to Murs and are hiked from the parking area along the D15, a mile and a half north of Gordes. Ruined mills, wells and narrow rock passages punctuate the route. Hiking around Murs continues up toward the ridges. A regional GR trail links Méthamis to Murs by way of the pass, through white oak forest alternating with garrigue scrub. Cycling gets its due as well: the Col de Murs is a local classic. As for outdoor activities in Murs, the limestone bedrock holds a few surprises. The local caving association runs guided visits of the caves. Visits in Murs are easily rounded out by the surrounding villages, all a few minutes away. Murs and nature is the real subject here: grain and rapeseed are still grown, along with cherry trees, apricot trees and lavandin.
How do you get to Murs?
Getting to Murs means driving, with no exceptions. The village lies 5 miles from Gordes on the D15 and 2.5 miles from Joucas. From Cavaillon, count 11 miles on the D2, then the D15 after Gordes. The finest route into Murs comes from the north. The D4 crosses the Col de Murs at 2,054 feet, 4 miles from the village and 6 miles from Venasque. The road winds through gorges and forest, with a superb viewpoint over the Vaucluse mountains. Driving to Murs is therefore the obvious choice. Public transportation to Murs is nearly nonexistent: no train station, no regular bus service. For rail travel, the Avignon TGV station sits about 32 miles away. Plan on a rental car when you arrive: it's the only way to make the most of the village and its surroundings.
Useful information:
- Inhabitants: 427
- Postal code: 84220
- Department: Vaucluse
Map:
