Eu-doped lanthanum orthophosphate samples were prepared by precipitation in aqueous solution of lanthanide ions using different precipitation agents or applying a hydrothermal treatment. The influence of the precipitation parameters on the structure and morphology of La_0.95Eu_0.05PO₄ was studied analyzing the samples by XRD, FTIR and SEM. La_0.95Eu_0.05PO₄ synthesized by precipitation method presented rhabdophane structure, whereas the hydrothermal method leads to rhabdophane phase when H₃PO₄ was added in the synthesis and a mixture of rhabdophane and monazite phases when KH₂PO₄ or Na₂HPO₄ were used. The annealing step at 550°C/1h led to the monazite phase stabilization. The luminescent properties of La_0.95Eu_0.05PO₄ samples were investigated.