In midsummer, lavender blooms in northern Provence. Lavender fields – the hallmark of Provence – are not inferior in popularity to the Cote d’Azur. Postcard views of fields covered with purple rows of fragrant lavender attract many tourists to Haute-Provence. Lavender has been grown in this region for almost a thousand years for its soothing aroma and healing properties. We’ll tell you where and when the most famous lavender fields bloom, how to get there, what to buy and where to stay.
When
From the end of June, when the lavender blooms, and until the beginning of August, when it is collected. The flowering period depends on the weather and the area where it grows. Below you will find a map of the flowering of lavender fields, on it fields that bloom from late June to July 15 are marked in light purple, those that bloom from early to July 25 are marked in blue, and fields that bloom from early July to July 25 are marked in dark purple. August 10.
Large cities in the region are marked in orange – Cannes, Avignon, Arles, Valence. In each city, we recommend visiting the tourist office (Office de tourisme) and picking up a detailed map of the lavender fields, which is updated every year. There you can also learn about local holidays, fairs and festivals.
How to get there
By car. Renting a car is the most convenient solution, because most fields are not connected by trains or buses. And by car you can create your own route or drive along one of the roads that pass through the most beautiful fields and mountains, with stops in medieval villages and castles. It is best to start from Nice or Marseille. A day’s rental of a car with a manual transmission will cost from 1,700 rubles.
Public transport. You can take the train from Paris or Marseille to Avignon, where tour companies run day-long bus trips through the lavender fields. There is also a train from Avignon to Carpentras, where you can take the Carpentras – Sault bus,
which goes through lavender fields to the ancient city of So.
Bicycle routes through lavender fields are becoming increasingly popular, but they are only suitable for people with good physical fitness, because Provence is hills and mountains, and the average temperature in summer is 30-35°C.
Where
The main lavender fields are concentrated in three regions of Provence: Alpes of Haute-Provence, Vaucluse and Hautes-Alpes.. Many cities have tourism associations offering walking and cycling tours. All information about the six Lavender Roads (Routes de la lavande)in English available on the MoveYourAlps association website (offline and online maps, information about holidays, attractions, hotels and campsites).
Main lavender flowering areas
— Plains and perfume factories of the Vercors, Diois and Drôme Provençal region (Vercors, Diois, Drôme Provençal) , where lavender blooms from late June to late July. Travel from Crest to Baronnies,
through fields in the vicinity of Die and Rosans,
where the road goes through low mountains, past a plateau with lavender fields. Drôme Provencal is famous not only for lavender, but also for the medieval villages of Dieulefit, Grignon, Valréas.
— Hills and mountains in the region of Drôme, Vaucluse, Alpes de Haute Provence (Drôme, Vaucluse, Alpes de Haute Provence) . From June to mid-July, lavender blooms in dozens of fields around the mountain villages of Vaison-la-Romaine, Nyons, Buis-les-Baronnies, Orpierre, Rosans.
— Mountains, ocher canyon and medieval castle in the region of Ventoux, Lure, Luberon . The towns of Gordes and Apt are surrounded by fields where lavender honey is sold, and the huge ocher canyon of Rustrel is called the Colorado of Provence because of its Martian landscapes. We recommend visiting at sunrise or sunset, when the canyon walls glow in all shades of red. Near the canyon is the medieval castle of Mane (chateau Mane),
and at the foot of the white mountains of Lure the most fragrant mountain lavender grows.
—descent from the mountains to the Cote d’Azur in the area of Grasse and Valensole (Grasse et Valensole). Descend from the vast lavender plateau of Valensole, through Mézel and Barèmme to Castellane,
next to which lies the lavender valley of Artuby. The route ends in Grasse, the perfume capital of France. Here lavender blooms until mid-August.
Must see: lavender fields on the Valensole plateau
About Valensole Plateau, which lies in the foothills of the Alps and looks like an endless sea of lavender, is worth telling separately. There are more than ten lavender fields on the plateau. You can see everything by following a 33-kilometer circular route: Valensole D56 east to Puimoisson – take D953 north to the Poteau de Telle junction – D8 back west to Valensole.
Near the Valensole plateau there is the village of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, included in the list of the most beautiful villages in France, and 30 kilometers to the southeast is Verdon Gorge (Gorges du Verdon) – the most beautiful in France. We recommend visiting the Grand Canyon du Verdon – a giant gorge in limestone rocks, 700 meters deep, offering breathtaking views.
Lavender Festivals and Fairs:
— Lavender Festival in Saint André de Rosains, where they sell lavender oil and tinctures, perfumes, honey , soap, ice cream and even cakes. The festival takes place on the second weekend of August.
—Digne-les-Bains Lavender Fair is the largest Lavender fair in Provence. They sell all kinds of products made from (or with the addition of) lavender, as well as the best dried fruits and candied fruits in France. Festive processions pass through the city, accompanied by hundreds of musicians and dancers. In addition to lavender, Digne-les-Bains is famous for its balneological baths, medieval churches and the only butterfly park in France (Le Jardin des Papillons).
— Lavender Festival in the city of Sault , which takes place on August 15, the day the lavender harvest in Provence ends. Craftsmen and perfumers come to Seau, master classes on making perfume and cosmetics are held here, gastronomic specialties are sold, musicians play ancient Provençal melodies, and a book fair takes place nearby.
