The temperature dependence of the GdVO4:EU3- luminescence from the EU3+ (5) D-0'-->F-7(3) transition above room temperature has been studied. The intensity of the luminescence when excited at 313 and 365 nm increases rapidly as temperature rises up to 600 K while the emission intensity at 254 nm only changes a little. The origin of this novel phenomenon is analyzed and discussed by energy transfer from host to Eu3+ in terms of a configurational-coordinate model. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science BY All rights reserved.