At the foot of Montagne de Lure, Cruis lies between lavender fields and garrigue. When planning a trip, you can focus on the landscape or the monastic heritage; there is also a circular hike, local produce and a jazz festival held every year in early August.
Monastic heritage and historic buildings
Cruis Abbey was founded in the 12th century. The parish church of Saint-Martin is the former church of an Augustinian abbey; arcades from the late 13th-century cloister survive from the former abbey church. Both Saint-Martin Church and the arcades are listed as historic monuments. The founding of the abbey and the surviving arcades provide distinct historical reference points for the town.
The municipal exhibition hall is located in part of the former abbey, in a former funeral chapel with two vaulted rooms. Another historic building period is represented by Chapelle Croix de Lumière, built in 1862. The Lavoir des Pestiférés is roofed with stone slabs. The town thus offers different architectural forms and periods to explore as separate themes for a cultural stay, rather than as a single building complex.
Circular trail and pastoral history
The Ronde des Jas is a circular trail through woodland with a variety of tree species, clearings and aromatic meadows. When choosing a hike, both its circular route and this variety of landscapes are worth considering: the trail passes not only through woodland, but also through open areas and meadows. Check current local conditions before setting out.
Jas are mountain barns built from dry stone and used from May to September. This building technique involves stacking stones without mortar. Their former seasonal use places the jas within the pastoral history of the mountain landscape. The circular trail and the mountain barns offer different perspectives: the route through woodland and meadows on the one hand, and the mountains’ former use on the other.
Landscape, local produce and jazz
Lavender fields and garrigue shape the landscape at the foot of Montagne de Lure. Olives and honey are also produced locally in Cruis. The Bistrot de Pays serves local produce; check before travelling whether this service is available on your dates. Local production and dining are two separate points of interest: one concerns olive oil and honey, while the other is an offering featuring local produce.
The Cruis en Jazz festival takes place every year in early August. Dates and the programme change each year. If you would like to plan your trip around the festival, check the dates and programme for the relevant year. This lets you include it as a specific reason for your trip without assuming the programme or dates stay the same.
Getting there and finding a hotel
Forcalquier is 20 km from Cruis; from there, take the D12 and D53. Use this information for guidance and check the current route and road conditions before setting off.
If you are looking for a hotel in Cruis, your reason for travelling can help narrow down your search: for example, the monastic heritage, the Ronde des Jas, the landscape and local produce, or Cruis en Jazz. If you are planning a stay around the festival, take its changing dates into account. Then check accommodation availability for your specific travel dates.
Discover more destinations
Allemagne-En-Provence, Pierrevert, Saint-Laurent-Du-Verdon, Saint-Martin-De-BrĂ´mes, Pra Loup, Montclar, Revest-des-Brousses, Pierrerue
For the main travel overview: Alpes-De-Haute-Provence.
