When lavender fields bloom in Provence. Lavender fields: lilac landscapes of Provence. Where to see lavender fields

Inspiring with their wonderful aroma, lavender fields excite romantics and painters with their blooms. Lilac and blue bushes , planted exactly in a row, amaze with their natural perfection. The lavender flower itself is not very noticeable, but when the even bushes of a lilac shade are covered with flowers, bees from all over the area flock to this smell. But not only insects have chosen these plants.

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When does lavender bloom?

Every year, tourists, photographers and painters visit the lavender fields, hoping to remember this mesmerizing moment. The flowering time of lavender in Provence begins in mid-June, in some places it can bloom until the end of August. It depends on the area, climate and plant variety. But if you want to see this magnificent spectacle while visiting France, then it is better to come to the province by the end of June. The most beautiful flowering in mid-July. The plant begins to be collected at this time.

Where are the lavender fields?

Lavender fields can be found not only in France. This plant grows in Latvia. But the most extensive and picturesque fields are located in the province of Provence in the south of France. It is there that 80% of the world's lavender harvest is harvested.

For that, to find lavender fields in Provence in France it is necessary to figure out where this plant is most often found. In the province of Provence, this plant can be found in many places. It is the official symbol of the region. Farmers plant it on their plots. It is also grown in fields of various sizes. But the most picturesque and endless fields can be found in three regions of Provence:

Alps of Haute Provence.
Drôme-Provençal.
Vaucluse.

What tours are there for lavender blossoms?

To enjoy the sight and aroma of blooming lavender, you can go to sightseeing tour from Nice or Marseille, as well as other cities in the south of France. IN excursion program usually includes a visit to the largest Valensole valley with blooming lavender. A variety of plant known as lavender is grown here.

It's more fragrant and has large flowers. You don't need to climb high to see it. But such a plant does not have medicinal properties, which mountain lavender has. Lavender is used only in the production of cosmetics. It is against the background of such bright fields that excellent and mesmerizing shots are obtained. Very often, plans made in this area are used to produce postcards.

Lavender field tours often include visits to farms where you can learn about the process of producing lavender oil and growing the plant. Another place to visit is the Lavender Museum, located in small town Custelle. There you can get acquainted with the flower itself, its types and learn how the essence is extracted from it. The extracted essence is used in cosmetic production. There is also a small shop where you can buy products using lavender. In the store you can even buy honey collected by bees from these fields.

In addition, fairs and festivals dedicated to this plant are held every year. One of these festivals takes place in the town of Soult. A huge lavender field stretched out in front of him.

The following products can be purchased at the fair:

Lavender honey
Ice cream.
Soap with lavender.
Cosmetics based on lavender oil.

At each fair, various shows dedicated to this plant are held. Competitions are held among festival guests. Everyone has the opportunity not only to buy lavender and products based on it, but also to collect it with their own hands. The festival is held on August 15 and is dedicated to the harvest of the plant. But if you arrive in this area earlier, you can visit the lavender fields by walking hiking. There are walking routes everywhere that will allow you to enjoy all the beauty of the fields with these flowers.

Lavender looks incredibly beautiful in photographs taken at the time of flowering.

How to get to Provence

The most convenient way to get to the lavender fields is by car. Doesn't go to the fields railway transport. It is better to start your trip from or Marseille. The path can be laid using the route map to search for fields. If you don't have a car, you can get to the lavender fields by train, reaching Carpentrass, and then by bus going to ancient city So, on the way passing lavender fields. If you are in good physical condition, you can go explore the lavender fields on a bicycle. But you just need to remember that the road will not be easy. Along the way you will have to overcome hills and mountains at temperatures of 30-35 degrees Celsius.

Routes in Provence

On a trip to Provence It's better to go by car. This will guarantee that you will be able to visit beautiful and interesting places. Doesn't go everywhere public transport. The most interesting places located in Provence:

Plateau de Valensole. There are quite a few lavender fields located in a small area. To see them all, you need to take the D6 highway towards the north. You can return along the D8 highway.
Mont ven Toux. In this area the fields are located in the vicinity settlements So, Gord and Apt. But one, but quite large, lavender field is located in the Senangue Abbey.
Verdon Gorge. 45 kilometers from Castellane towards the west, there are lavender fields. In order to get to them, you need to drive through the most beautiful village Moustiers-Sainte-Marie. Right from the village you can see lavender fields.

The most beautiful and memorable photographs of lavender fields are taken by tourists who are lucky enough to go on such a trip.

Some time ago, tourists going on vacation to the South developed a new hobby. They found out about the lavender fields in Crimea - where they are and when they bloom, now whole lines of cars are heading to such places. The newlyweds are traveling for wedding photo, artists and simply lovers of nature, and, to be honest, petty swindlers intending to pick a sheaf of fragrant flowers “for free”.

Where are the lilac lands?

It is not easy to unequivocally answer the question of where the lavender fields, considered the best, are located in Crimea. There are quite a lot of them, and in different regions of the region. Previously, even under the USSR, there were even more of them, and raw materials from Taurida were even supplied to France and were in demand among local perfumers.

But even now there are many plantations. You can see them while driving along the route “Simferopol - Sudak”. You need to be especially careful after the village of Crimean Rose. There is even a village called Lavender (go from the capital by ) - of course, there are plantings near it. In the area of the main city of Crimea, lavender grows near the villages of Vodnoye, Mazanki, and Medicinal.

In Belogorye it is between the villages of Aromatnoye and Tsvetochnoye (appreciate the names!). The plantings are found in Uchkuevka, and on. But the Bakhchisarai region is the richest in lavender. Plantations are located near the villages of Kudrino, Shelkovichnoe, Rastuschee, Zavetnoe. The most famous and popular lavender field is located near the village of Turgenevka.

Seeing the famous lavender fields in Provence has been my dream for several years. And when else can dreams come true, if not on a birthday? 🙂 This year we were thinking about where it would be better to go – to England for the Ascot horse racing or to Provence in France. You chose Provence, but until the last day you doubted when lavender blooms in Provence?

Just in case, I turned to Facebook again, or, more precisely, to the Russian-speaking group on Cote d'Azur. Opinions there were also divided, some said that it was too early, we should go at the beginning of July, and some said that it was already possible. One girl sent me a fresh photo next to lavender bushes and my mood immediately lifted. Of course, a lot depends on the weather, but this year on June 20 everything was already blooming and smelling. Having studied several sites about Provence, I can also say that the fields in the northern part of Provence begin to bloom earlier, and in August it is better to go to Provence closer to the sea - to the south.

Before traveling to Provence, for a complete understanding, I recommend reading Peter Mayle’s books, as well as watching the film “ Good year" I watched the film, but so far I’ve only read “A Year in Provence”, I’ll look for others. Peter Mayle moved to live from England to Provence and writes in an ironic tone about his impressions, about life in Provence, its inhabitants and attractions. During our trip, I remembered his book more than once and remarked: “Yes! Everything is just like that!" 🙂

On this trip to Provence, we decided to explore only northern part– Luberon or Haute-Provence, drive through picturesque villages, look at lavender fields and taste local wine. It seems to me that you need to go here exclusively by car. Yes, we saw bus stops (but not a single bus), we saw railway(but it is not that close to the fields), we saw cyclists (but each of them had such stony faces with clenched teeth that they clearly did not enjoy the beauty of Provence). But with a car you can drive around the “real” Provence, through all the villages and towns, stop at any field, visit all the wineries and farms. True, the driver will have to limit himself in tastings :)

First of all, we booked a hotel in the village of Gordes. Since it was a birthday, we decided to choose the best one - La Bastide de Gordes, especially since it was just about to open after a major renovation. But a week before the trip, they sent us a letter, completely in the spirit of Provence, that they could not keep up with the repairs, but were ready to refund our money and give us a 30% discount on our next booking. Of course, we agreed to the discount, so next year we are going to Provence again! We will see what we didn’t have time to do in the Luberon, and we will go to southern Provence.

And this time we stayed for Friday night in a small hotel near the village of Sault, and the second in a wonderful bed & breakfast 3 km from Menerbes. It's called La Bastide de Soubeyras.

The house has a swimming pool, several rooms, beautiful lawns and a wonderful view from the dining room where breakfast is served.

The owners live in the same house with their dog and cat. We were greeted very cordially, we felt like we were not in a hotel, but as guests.

We started Saturday morning in the village of Simiane la Rotonde. We found a single store there, had breakfast for 9 euros and got ready to go to Saint Saturnin les Aptes. This is where we saw our first lavender field!

And when we drove around it, on the other side we saw Simiane la Rotonde on a rock.

This is exactly what all Provençal villages look like - houses are arranged in a circle on the top of a hill.

It takes half an hour by car to get to Saint Saturnin les Aptes from Simiane la Rotonde. Along the road we passed other lavender fields, vineyards, poppies...

In Saint Saturnin les Aptes we went up and looked at the old mill.

Then we wandered through the ruins of the castle and reached the very top to the church. If there is a castle in a Provençal village, it is always at the very peak. That is, you need to take very comfortable shoes in order to climb up the rocks.

The next town was Gordes, the same one we originally wanted to stop at. It is considered one of the most beautiful towns in France.

To be honest, the city center did not make much of an impression. Besides, there was such a powerful wind there that I was simply blown away!

But at the entrance to Gordus, below we found a very beautiful house, perhaps also a hotel, or the owners of the house simply did not lock the gate, and I went into the yard there.

A cozy courtyard, garden, swimming pool, flowers everywhere - just a fairy tale.

We decided to have lunch in Gorda, but chose a completely unsuccessful restaurant. I asked him to recommend some good local wine. They brought me a glass of white wine, which I couldn’t drink at all – I could clearly feel the alcohol and bitterness, it was so dry. She asked me to bring something else - it tasted exactly the same. In the end, I couldn’t drink this wine, but both glasses were still included in the bill, such is the attitude towards tourists.

Co observation platforms in Gordes you can see where the lavender and grape fields are located, and then drive through them.

We noticed several fields and were then able to look at Gordes from the other side.

Having bought lavender soap and white kitchen towels with embroidered lavender in a souvenir shop, we went to see the most famous abbey in Provence - Senanque Abbey.

Photos of this abbey appear quite often when you enter the words “lavender fields of Provence” into a search engine.

You can go on a tour to the abbey itself, but our trip was very short, so we didn’t go to any museums or excursions. Moreover, thanks to the Internet and travel agencies, Senank Abbey is very popular, and it was the only place in all of Provence, where besides us there were two more tourist buses(one with Ukrainian tourists, by the way), and there were no empty spaces in the parking lot.

The next village is Fontaine de Vaucluse, along which a river with cascades flows.

There are caves to visit, a watermill and grottoes.

You can approach the grotto by climbing up the path along the river. True, the grotto itself is fenced off, but even a danger sign does not stop those who want to come closer. We also jumped over the fence and this is what we saw.

From Fontaine de Vaucluse we went to the village of Opedde le vieux. On the way we stopped for wine tasting. Having tried all the wine that was available, I began to think that in Provence all wine was the same - with a bitter aftertaste, and I even got upset.

Opedde le vieux is a village that can only be navigated on foot, as there is no parking. Guidebooks to Provence say that here you can see the ruins of an old castle. At the foot of the village there is a park, and the village itself has streets straight out of a postcard.

But the castle turned out to be closed for restoration, which we found out about only after climbing to the very top of the mountain.

This was our first day in Provence, full of impressions. Tired and happy, we arrived at our hotel La Bastide de Soubeyras near Menerbes. We checked in, left our things and went to the La Veranda restaurant in Menerbes, booked by the hotel owner.

I can definitely recommend this restaurant! I don’t know what worked here - either it really treats all clients so well, or a real estate magazine that we grabbed from an agency nearby. Leafing through this magazine and comparing prices with those in Geneva, we continually admired the luxurious houses “for only” a million euros, imagining how much it would cost here. They probably took us for potential new residents of Provence and tried to please us :)

Whatever it was, everything was very tasty until the steaks arrived. It was impossible to chew from it, so we asked for something else. An excited cook came from the kitchen, took our plates and brought us a new portion of excellent meat. As a result, not only were we not charged for the “first pancake,” but also the cost of dessert was deducted from the bill as compensation. They also recommended good local wine to us and told us where we could buy it. So the next day we went for a tasting at Domaine Ruffinatto in a small house and brought home several bottles of red and white wine from Provence - this is how the reputation of the wine region was saved in my eyes :)

Before leaving home, we couldn’t help but stop at Lacoste, one of the most famous Provençal towns. We wanted to see the castle of the Marquis de Sade, but it was closed on Sunday.

Immediately upon entering the town we were greeted by such a cute restaurant by the road.

Lacoste is all paved with white polished stones, all the roads, walls and houses are a pleasant sand color.

You definitely can’t walk around a town like this in heels; even though I was walking low, my Jimmy Choos took a lot of damage during this trip. So it’s better to wear something sports on your feet for Provence, especially for the fields.

Our two days in Provence flew by very quickly, it was a pity to leave such beauty! Everything turned out to be even better than I imagined when I planned the trip. Unforgettable impressions after a trip to the Luberon are guaranteed, especially when the lavender is in bloom in Provence. It would be interesting to know the opinions of those who traveled to Provence as part of bus tour– is it so interesting? I can’t imagine how you can limit yourself in time, travel in a group, and not be able to stop near any lavender field or farm with fresh peaches, cherries and tomatoes you like!

You definitely shouldn’t rush anywhere in Provence, otherwise you won’t be able to experience it. And you won’t recognize him in one trip. The same Peter Mail has been living in Provence for several decades, but still constantly discovers something new and writes new books...

And in the summer of 2016 we went to Provence again and visited a wonderful

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The concentration of the picturesque views themselves, including those laid out among fields, farms and colorful villages tourist routes, is located mainly in the northern part of the province. Since ancient times, lilac fields strewn with small neat houses and trees have attracted photographers and artists from all over the world to these places, each of whom strives to capture the beauty of Provençal landscapes in their creations.

Lavender belongs to the Lamiaceae family, which includes mint, rosemary, basil, sage, marjoram, lemon balm and other plants. There is an assumption that it arose on Canary Islands or on the territory of Persia (modern Iran). Regardless of where the fragrant lilac flower got its start, during its existence it managed to accumulate enough rich history. In the Middle Ages ancient greek civilization classified lavender as a “noble plant,” and the Romans used it for washing and called it “lavandula.” The name comes from the Latin word "lava", which translates as "to wash". Later in Rome they found a way to extract lavender oil and began to use it in perfumery and pharmacology.

Today, lavender is grown in the largest volumes in Provence. Until a few decades ago, harvesting and selling crops was an exclusively female activity, and men, as a rule, were engaged in other agricultural work. To create large flower plantations, it was often necessary to resort to hiring workers. In 1952, with the advent of harvesting machines, the process of processing lavender fields was significantly easier, and until that moment the entire harvest was harvested by hand using a sickle. Today, “blue gold” is cultivated by many farmers, most of whom live exclusively from its cultivation, improving the quality and appearance of the plant.

In Provence, lavender symbolizes local history and beauty. Despite the fairly high annual harvest, in its native lands it is always used in various fields. The plant is regularly used to create cosmetics, perfumes, soaps, and some restaurants even use it in the preparation of original dishes to add local cuisine special charm. In such establishments you can taste the lavender by ordering lavender sorbet, cookies or honey.

In natural conditions in the famous historical region France, Provence, grows two types of lilac plants - lavandin and lavender. Lavandin grows in fields below 600 meters above sea level. It is generally intended for functional perfumery - making soaps, creams and cleaning products. Lavender grows at an altitude of more than 700-800 meters. It is mainly grown to create essential oils. The rich aroma and beneficial properties of lavender are highly valued by cosmetic manufacturers and perfumers.

The flowering time for lavender fields in Provence is mid-June to late August. It is best to visit the places where Provençal lavender grows in July, when flowering reaches the peak of its splendor and beauty. At the end of the second summer month, the harvest begins.

In different regions, the lilac plant blooms in different time. For example, in the vicinity natural park In the Luberon and Rhone Valley it blooms from mid-June to early August. In the communes of Drôme-Provençal and Valensole, lavender blooms in early July. The fields of the Vaucluse department begin to smell fragrant in mid-July.

The most picturesque lavender places in Provence include tourist region Drôme-Provençal, Alpes-Haute-Provence and Vaucluse department, towns and small villageswhich will delight tourists with their colorfulness not only during the lavender flowering season, but also all year round. Often, golden fields of wheat or sunflowers flaunt next to the lilac fields, giving the overall appearance even more picturesque.

Four kilometers from Gordes (Vaucluse department) is the ancient 12th-century abbey of Notre-Dame de Senanc, surrounded by bright lavender fields. The monks here grow lavender; in addition, they maintain an apiary and produce honey. The Abbey Store offers lavender honey, dried lavender, soaps and lavender perfumes for the home. The picturesque plateau of Valensole, in Haute-Provence, is famous for its endless flowering fields stretching to the horizon. In the Alpes of Haute-Provence, the main lavender region in the southwest of the province, it is possible to go to any of the lavender farms and arrange a tour or mini-lecture about the plant from the farmers. One of these farms, which has a good reputation and is open to tourists, is called Chateau du Bois and is located in Lagarde-d-Apt, which is 20 kilometers from Apt. This farm has been producing cosmetic products using lavender extract since 1890. The owners of Chateau du Bois, Sophie and Jacques Lansolet, organized a Lavender Museum on the territory of their farm, which is open almost all year round, with the exception of January. Naturally, they offer various products containing real Provençal lavender.

In addition to the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the lavender fields, guests of Provence have the chance to attend one of the many festivals that take place in the region every summer. The largest of them takes place in the village of Seau, in the Vaucluse department, from August 15. The population of the village is only 1200 inhabitants. In So, growing lavender and producing all kinds of products from it is the main activity, so it is especially revered here. During the holiday, colorful events, fairs, and competitions are organized on the territory of the settlement. At the festival you can buy essential oils, lavender soap, bouquets, honey, bags of dried flowers and other products containing lavender.

You can enjoy the local sights and aromas of the flowering fields of Provence by bicycle, on foot or by car. It is most convenient to view the surrounding landscapes by car, since this method of transportation allows you to see the most secluded corners of the province. Designed for tourists a large number of routes that can be found on the Internet. When choosing to travel by bicycle, you should be prepared for steep ascents and descents. Lovers of real adventure are invited to take a walk above colorful fields lavender on hot-air balloon. Such excursions are gladly organized for everyone in Forcalquier, Alpes-Haute-Provence department. In Avignon and Aix-en-Provence there are many tour operators organizing day trips with a visit to the lavender fields and surrounding attractions. You can also see the purple landscapes from buses that run on the routes Carpentras - So and Apt - So. For those interested in staying in the heart of lavender country, they can stay in hotels and resorts in Provence, which abound in endless fields of the plant that is the symbol of France - lavender.

Lavender blossom

Approximately mid-June - mid-August, depending on the area and weather. Best time for the trip - the last week of June and July. The lavender harvest is usually harvested from July to September. In the region and Rhone Valley lavender blooms in mid-June. On and Drome Provence- at the beginning of July. Territory Sault blooms in mid-July.

As a rule, fields of wheat and lavender are located nearby, surrounding the lilac fields with a golden sea that shimmers in the sun. Sometimes there are fields of sunflowers nearby (they bloom in July-August).

Lavender flowering periods in Provence:

Lavender festivals

A trip to the lavender fields of Provence can be completed with a visit to one of the lavender festivals, which are held at different times in several of the main “lavender” towns. As a rule, the holiday is timed to coincide with the harvest of fragrant flowers, so after such holidays it is too late to see the lavender fields.

Schedule of lavender festivals in Provence:

Riez: last days July – Lavender fete
: Lavender fête. Annual lavender festival in the second half of July (usually the third Sunday in July)
Digne: Lavender Parade, every year in early August. At the end of August is Lavender Day.
Thorame-Haute: Lavender festival: 2nd weekend of August
Esparron sur Verdon: lavender festival in mid-August
Sault: mid-August (August 14 - 15) - lavender festival, lavender picking competitions, flower crews
Valreas: lavender parade, flower carriages, folk performances. Every year on the first weekend of August.

Along the D8 road between and D953 (4 km north of Puimoisson) there are lavender fields. GPS: 43.896292 N, 6.128771 E
Along the D6 between and Riez, about 5 southeast of there are beautiful lava fields at the entrance to Petit Arlane (Centre Naturiste).

Sault and Mont Ventoux

Region Mont Ventoux, including the city Sault, northeast of and, includes a number of beautiful lavender fields. In the east of Avignon, around the towns and Saignon, you can also see the lavender fields. Some of them have picturesque stone buildings - Borie (big village from Bories is located next to the village).