Where are lavender fields in the world? Amazingly beautiful lavender fields of France in Provence. Lavender bloom season in Provence
Picturesque landscapes that will take your breath away, hearty dinners and delicious wines, the polyphonic chirping of cicadas and birdsong - this is what I primarily associate with Provence and France. And of course, Provence for me is the same lavender, photographs of which are exactly the same symbol of France as the Eiffel Tower.
But independent travel blooming lavender Provence has many nuances that you should know about if, like me, you dream of seeing this lavender sea and the rural side of France with your own eyes.
Would it be possible to invent Provence? best advertising than paintings by famous artists? For whom Provence has always been a source of inspiration and actually showed the world such names as Cezanne, Van Gogh, Matisse, Picasso and many others.
The pastoral landscapes of Provence are an invariable part of many French films and famous literary works. I saw, read and heard so much about Provence that traveling there was (and remains, because I haven’t seen everything there 8) a big tourist dream
Well, after reading “A Year in Provence” by Peter Mile, my decision to go to Provence for at least a week became decisive and so we began preparing for the trip.
Surprisingly, there is not much information about traveling to Provence on your own to look for lavender fields. (especially without a car).
I will share the basic information that all travelers who want to include a visit to lavender fields in their travel program in France should know.
From mid-June until almost the end of August, the lavender fields of Provence bloom.
In the Luberon region and the Rhone Valley, lavender blooms in mid-June. On the plateau of Valensole and Drome Provençal - in early July.
The Sault area blooms in mid-July.
The peak of lavender flowering in Provence is July-August. The lavender harvest occurs from July to September.
Welcome to Provence or watch out for snakes!
Looking at all these breathtaking photos of lavender on stock photo sites, where girls with carefree faces are running through lavender fields, I could not imagine how unsafe this activity is.
Our guide immediately warned - do not lean towards the lavender bushes and do not go too deep, here vipers really like to hide in the shade of lavender. So, after this warning, I would not even run through these fields at gunpoint, feigning incredible pleasure from being in such beauty.
The most prudent thing was to listen to the words of the guide, because in the first couple of days in Provence I had already encountered several rather large snakes and regretted that I had not brought wading boots on the trip.
To be honest, in tropical Thailand I saw snakes much less frequently, even on excursions through the jungle, than in the courtyard of our Provençal estate where we were staying.
So, already on the first day, these meetings discouraged me from not only walking here, but also riding a rented bicycle, as we had originally planned. After all, snakes often crawl out to warm themselves on the hot asphalt of roads. A car can run over a snake without any damage, but on a bicycle it’s not so safe. Who knows how to go around a snake - from the front or the back? Perhaps she will crawl away when she sees me, or maybe she will be angry that I am disturbing her peace and will overtake me? In general, fear and horror are continuous and completely unexpected.
So if you are planning a romantic photo shoot in the fields of Provence, take waist-high rubber boots. Now I definitely won’t go there without the swampers)))
Territories with lavender fields
Lavender fields Provence is occupied by several districts (pays)
— Pays d’Apt - Luberon (where I ended up going)
— Pays de Buech - Baronnies
—Pays de Digne
— Pays de Forcalquier et Montagne de Lure
— Pays de Sault et du Ventoux
— Pays de Valensole et du Verdon
—Drome Provençale
— Vallée de la Drôme - Diois
Driving routes with blooming lavender fields along the road:
Car rental in Provence:
I found the best car rental deals in Marseille, in the cities Cote d'Azur(Nice, Cannes, etc. a car costs much more)
Important lavender addresses in Provence on the map
You can choose the most interesting ones to visit, or those that will be located near your accommodation:
The largest lavender farms in Provence
La Ferme de Gerbaud
The farm is not only about lavender, there is also a whole farm with horses, cows and donkeys.
The farm is open to tourists from April to October on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 5 pm, in November and March on Saturdays at 3 pm.
The tour takes 90 minutes and is conducted in English or French.
Farm address:
La Ferme de Gerbaud, Lourmarin 84160 France
http://www.plantes-aromatiques-provence.com
Tel: 04 90 68 11 83
Ho! Bouquet de lavender
The farm is open to visitors from late April to mid-November. Here you can buy essential oils and various lavender products.
Address:
Ferrassieres 26570 France
http://www.hobouquetdelavande.com/
0475288752
Les Lavandes du Gaec Champelle
The farm is open to tour groups by appointment. There is also a shop selling lavender souvenirs, which is open from April to October.
Address:
Sault France
http://www.gaec-champelle.fr
04 90 64 01 50
Lavender processing plants
GAEC Aroma'Plantes
Farm with lavender processing plant, operating since 1978. Here you can buy dried lavender, essential oils, aromatic water, alcoholic drinks and syrup.
It is open all year round and here you can walk around the farm and taste the distillery’s distillery products for free
Address:
GAEC Aroma'Plantes
Route du Ventoux "La Parente"
Sault 84390 France
http://www.distillerie-aromaplantes.com/
Tel: 04 90 64 04 02 / 04 90 64 14 73
Distillerie les Coulets
Traditional lavender distillery, outdoor all year round for selling lavender souvenirs.
Visits to the plant in July-August from 9-12.00 and 14-16.00 are free.
Address:
Distillerie les Coulets
Hameau les Coulets Route de Rustrel
Apt 84400 France
Tel: 04 90 74 07 55
Distillerie du Vallon
Free visits to the plant from July 25 to August 25.
Address:
Distillerie du Vallon
Le Vallon Route des Michouilles
Sault 84390 France
Tel: 04 90 64 14 83
Distillerie Les Agnels
Lavender distillery open whole year, sell organic essential oils. What’s noteworthy is that there is a healing pool with lavender water.
Address:
route de Buoux Apt France
http://www.lesagnels.com/
04 90 04 77 00
Lavender Museum in Provence Musée de la Lavande
Here you will see the history of lavender processing from the 16th century to the present day, and in general you will learn everything you wanted to know about lavender, but were afraid to ask.
Address:
Musée de la Lavande
276 Route de Gordes
CS50016 - D2
84220 COUSTELLET
Tel: 04 90 76 91 23
http://www.museedelalavande.com/en/
For individual visits to the museum the following conditions apply:
Ticket adult: 6.80 €, children under 15 years old accompanied by parents free. The last ticket is sold half an hour before closing.
Free audio guides in 10 languages, incl. in Russian
Guided tours run from 13.30-17.00 daily from May to September.
The museum itself is open 7 days a week from February 1 to December 31 (closed at Christmas - December 25)
Opening hours:
February-April and from October to December from 9.00 to 12.15 and from 14.00 to 18.00
May-September from 9.00-19.00 non-stop9 to 7 non-stop
The museum is closed in January.
Schedule of lavender festivals in Provence
Riez: last days July - Lavender fete
Valensole: Lavender fête. Annual lavender festival in the second half of July (usually the third Sunday of July)
Digne: Lavender Parade, every year in early August. At the end of August is Lavender Day.
Thorame-Haute: Lavender fête: 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.
Festivals and Corsos de Lavande
July 14 Apt- Fête de la lavender
July - 2nd half of Riez- Fête de la lavender
July -2nd half of Valensole- Fête de la lavender
August, 1st weekend Valré s - Corso de la lavande.
August, beginning of Digne-les-Bains- Corso de la lavender
August, mid Esparron-sur-Verdon- Fête de la lavender
August, mid Riez- Journée du miel et de la lavande (honey and lavender)
August, mid Sault- Fête de la lavande.
Buy air tickets to Provence
Book hotels in Provence
Well everything seems useful information I told you, now I can talk about my adventures in Provence with peace of mind. 8) If you have any questions, be sure to ask, I know, I’ll definitely tell you more.
- For those who want to see cherry blossoms or walk through a purple lavender field, Skyscanner talks about best places world, where you can admire the flowers, advises when and how best to get there:
And subscribe to my blog updates so you don’t miss the continuation of my Provençal photo stories.
My current Provencal route included very interesting and picturesque places - an ancient town Apt, where delicious confits are made from fruits, the medieval residence of the popes - the city Avignon, village Roussillon, famous for its ocher rocks and similar to its big brother from America - the Grand Canyon in Arizona, and another village Proud, located on a high cliff.
About mine from the trip before last to France and about the thousand-year history from my recent trip, I have already written my posts, and you can even read and watch them 8)
Provence is a picturesque region in south coast France. It can be compared to an expensive brand. It has a symbol - lavender, its own color - amethyst, its own aroma - Provencal herbs and a unique style. People from all over the world come here to plunge into the atmosphere of the endless lavender sea.
At first glance it may seem that lilac plantations are part of the beautiful natural landscapes this region. But this beauty was created by human hands. Farmers everywhere are engaged in growing, collecting and further processing of the fragrant flower. Locals call lavender "Blue Gold". It is here that 80% of the world's harvest of this plant is harvested.
Varieties
Lavender grows in mountainous areas, at an altitude of more than 700 meters above sea level. Thanks to medicinal properties and wonderful aroma, is a key component in the creation of exquisite perfumes and cosmetics.
Lavandin is an artificially bred variety with a high content of essential oil, but its aroma is significantly inferior to the original. It grows on plateaus below 600 meters above sea level. The plant is used in the production of cheaper types of cosmetic products - soap, cream, massage oils.
Where and when to look for blooming “Lavender fields”
In summer, Provence resembles one big festival with thematic fairs, exhibitions and scurrying lines of tourists in search of “Blue Gold”.
You can enjoy beautiful blooms from mid-June to mid-August. Peak flowering depends on weather conditions of the current year and may vary depending on precipitation, air temperature and plant variety. Therefore, in different areas, lavender blooms at its own time.
Expert opinion
Knyazeva Victoria
Guide to Paris and France
Ask a question to an expertYou can purchase an up-to-date map of lavender fields and also learn in detail about local themed holidays.
The best option would be to plan your trip for the end of June - beginning of July. And from the end of July to September, the harvest is already harvested for further processing.
Chateau d'If - prison of the Count of Monte Cristo
Basically, the flower is cultivated in the northern part of Provence. It is here that fragrant plantations are located, with tints of shades from soft lilac to blue-violet.
The Alps of Haute-Provence (Valensole plateau) lead in the number of plantations, merging into one flower carpet. On the third Sunday of July local residents celebrate a holiday - lavender day. Most often at this time it already smells everywhere here.
The landscapes of Drome Provençal are distinguished by a riot of contrasts - golden ears of wheat, yellow sunflowers, grapevines framed by purple flower paths. Lavender is known to bloom earlier - at the end of June.
Mount Ventoux is known for its later flowering - from late July to the second half of August. And on July 15, the Lavender Festival is celebrated.
Luberon - beautiful place for lovers pristine nature with old fairy-tale houses and fragrant purple fields, blooming in July.
Excursions
You can find and see the fields on your own or with a group of tourists. Local travel agencies offer day excursions for every taste.
For independent travel It’s worth renting a car, as you’ll have to travel huge distances and even climb mountain serpentine roads. You can also get there by public transport, but this is not the most convenient option and is limited to certain routes. For daredevils, flights are offered on hot-air balloon– admire the local beauty from a bird’s eye view and examine all the amethyst plantations at once.
Chenonceau Castle
The tourist capital of lavender is the city of Sole (Haute-Vaucluse department). The city lies against the backdrop of mountains, on a lilac fluffy carpet, with patterns of walking routes. Colored signs divide sections by difficulty. Flowering occurs in mid-summer, and on August 15, Sol celebrates a holiday - the end of the harvest season.
You can arrange an excursion to any of the farms. The most popular farm is Chateau du Bois, located in Lagarde-d-Apt (Alpes of Haute-Provence). Since 1890, it has been producing cosmetics based on lavender extract. Nearby there is a store with its own products and a museum that welcomes tourists all year round, except January.
Lavender fields in France (Provence, France) - detailed description, location, reviews, photos and videos.
- Last minute tours To France
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Among the postcard landscapes of the French countryside, there are hardly any more replicated than lavender fields. The soft purple lavender bushes extending into the horizon in slender fluffy stripes seem more like an outlandish carpet on which you want to fall asleep in anticipation of a fairy tale, rather than have anything to do with the world of flora. The main “lavender” department of France - picturesque Provence - can boast hundreds of square kilometers of these fantastic alien landscapes, and in July-August there is a real pilgrimage of admiring tourists.
The official capital of lavender is the city of Saul in the Haute-Vaucluse department.
When to see
Lavender generally blooms from late June to mid-August, depending on the climate of the year. In order to be guaranteed to enjoy an unforgettable spectacle, the trip should be planned for the period from the second week of July to the beginning of August. Before this time, if the spring was cold, only unremarkable buds will appear before your eyes. Well, in August, lavender is already collected for further processing, so there is a risk of seeing “the fields are compressed, the groves are bare.”
To explore the lavender fields, it is definitely worth renting a car - this way you can move among the most picturesque landscapes and stop in the most picturesque places without depending on public transport.
Lavender fields, harvest
Where to go
Almost the entire countryside of Provence is planted with lavender fields. Once you drive a little away from Avignon, you will find yourself among lavender fields of one or another “intensity”. In general, although lavender here is the official symbol and the most popular ornamental plant - there is not a Provencal who has not planted at least a bush in his flowerbed - lavender cultivation fields are located mainly in three regions of northern Provence: in the Alps of Haute-Provence (the largest plantations), Haute-Vaucluse and Drome-Provençal.
At the Provence tourism office you can get a map of the Lavender Roads - tourist routes laid among the richest and most picturesque fields.
The Alps of Haute-Provence are the undisputed leader in the number of lavender plantations. The most extensive is the Valensole valley, which is actually a huge lavender field. Her main city In summer, Valensole is literally surrounded by the scent of lavender. From there you can go to the village of Digne-les-Bains among the most picturesque plantations. And in the town of Custelle it is worth visiting the Lavender Museum, where ancient distillation apparatuses are displayed and cosmetic products with lavender are sold.
The official capital of lavender is the city of Saul in the Haute-Vaucluse department. Its surroundings are a continuous purple carpet, along which walking routes are laid. tourist routes(they are marked with colored indicators depending on the degree of difficulty). On August 15, a colorful lavender festival is held in Sol - the end of its harvesting season.
It is also good to admire lavender in Drôme-Provençal, but the landscapes here are more varied - there are wheat and sunflower fields, as well as numerous vineyards.
Going to walking among the lavender fields, be careful and watch out for bees!
Everyone knows that lavender fields are located in Provence. But where exactly? Which airport should you fly to? To Marseille, Nice? How can you get to the lavender fields without a car? When does lavender bloom? Find answers to all these questions in today's article. about the blue gold of France.
In fact, there are many lavender fields in France. There are even special routes called “Lavender Roads” (Les Routes de la Lavande). Here they are marked on the map.
I'll tell you about a trip to the lavender fields that are located in Valensole- a small Provençal town located between the city of Manosque and the Verdon nature reserve.
When to go?
Lavender blooms in Valensole from the end of June to the 15th of July. Do not believe numerous websites that flowering can be seen until the end of August. Perhaps in other places, but not in Valensole. By August, the lavender is harvested and only empty fields await you.
How to get there?
Valensole is located in the department Alpes Haute Provence. The closest airports are Marseille and Aix-en-Provence, but flying to them from Russia is long and expensive.
The best option is buy a ticket to Paris and directly from Paris Aéroport Roissy to Aix-en-Provence high speed train (TGV). The train takes 3h20 minutes. See tickets on the Ouigo website. They have inexpensive tickets compared to trains leaving from central Paris. For example, a TGV ticket departing from Paris Aéroport Roissy-CD2 at 7 am on July 4, 2017 costs only 25 euros. The only negative is that Ouigo trains do not arrive in the center of Aix-en-Provence, but from the station to the center you can easily take a bus for a few euros.
Okay, we got to Aix-en-Provence, but how to get further to the fields if you don’t have a car?
From the bus station in Aix-en-Provence (Aix-en-Province Gare routière) we take the bus number 24 to the town of Manosque. Here is a link to the Bus Schedule. Let's go to final stop Manosque Garerouter. The fare is 8.40 euros. It is more profitable to take a round-trip ticket for 13.20 euros.
From Manosque to Valensole is about 15 km. However, only 4 buses go there per day and only on weekdays. The last bus back from Valensole leaves at 13.10. Very inconvenient, the option of buses was no longer available.
We decided to rent electric bikes. On them you can accelerate up to 50 km/h downhill. Fast and useful!
At the Manosque bus station there is a very cute little shop called La Station de Lavande.
The owner called representatives of the local tourism office and we rented wonderful electric bikes from them. Purple, lavender color. Rental cost is about 20 euros for half a day and 40 euros for the whole day.
It's easy to find your way to Valensole by following the signs.
I will long remember the moment when I was riding a bicycle to the lavender fields. A feeling of boundless happiness, the wind blowing your hair, alluring aromas around. I clearly imagined myself as the heroine of a French film from the 60s.
And here are the lavender fields themselves! A light blue and almost cloudless sky overhead, the enchanting aroma of lavender, the hum of bees. Just a fairy tale!
On a huge plateau covered with lavender to the very horizon, you can get lost for a long time, inhaling the unique smells.
In addition to lavender fields, Valensole is also famous for its olive groves and sunflower fields. The L’Occitane cosmetics factory is also located nearby. Amazing place.
Where to live?
The trip to the lavender fields occurred during my Parisian student years, so we saved as much as we could. We lived for free in Aix-en-Provence by couchsurfing with a hospitable Frenchman. For those unfamiliar with the system, check out the website https://www.couchsurfing.com/.
There are also many offers for housing in Aix-en-Provence, Manosque, and even in Valensole itself on the airbnb website. By the way, I have prepared a discount of 2,000 rubles for your first trip, get it via the link www.airbnb.ru
As you can see, the trip to the fields turned out to be quite inexpensive. We did not find a similar route map on the Internet when we were preparing for the trip. The scheme was built by trial and error, but it works well. Already 2 groups of friends have used my tips to see the miracle of lavender fields without a car.
Come to Valensole! I am sure that the lavender fields will not leave anyone indifferent.
Helpful information!
Map of French regions with approximate lavender flowering dates for 2018.
It's hard to imagine without visiting these.
How to get to the lavender fields
The most convenient way to explore the lavender fields (you can rent a car, for example, in Nimes, Avignon or Marseille, see the best prices at this link). Plantations take up quite a lot large area, and throughout all the villages and towns, stopping at any field and visiting local farms and. The Vaucluse department can be reached via the A7 and A9 highways, the Drôme region can be reached via the A7 and A49 highways, and to arrive in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, you need to take the A51 motorway. You can also see it while traveling on one of the buses running along the route So - Carpentras and So - Apt.
Where are the lavender fields?
Lavender fields can be found throughout the countryside. But the most popular areas are considered to be the areas of northern Provence: Vaucluse, Drome Provence and the Alpes of Haute-Provence - leaders in the scale of lavender plantations.
Wonderful lavender fields are also located on the territory of the ancient Sénanque Abbey (Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque) in the Vaucluse department. The monks not only grow lavender, but also make honey, soap, and sachets from it.
If you travel to Provence, you should definitely visit the village of Valensole, which is famous for the largest lavender plantations in the world. This picturesque place attracts tourists not only with the endless fields of this beautiful plant, but also with its medieval architecture. during your holiday in Valensole you can follow this link.
Villages in the Luberon region – perfect place for those who want to enjoy cozy narrow streets located on the tops of rocks and hills, as well as the aroma of fragrant flowers growing in the fields between rocky villages. Find and book the right one.
Lavender bloom season in Provence
Lavender blooms from the end of June. In Drôme Provencal and Valensole it begins to bloom earlier, in June, and in Vaucluse - in mid-July. To be sure to catch lavender blooming before it is harvested, it is better to plan your trip from mid-July to early August - at this time it reaches its greatest beauty and lushness. But in August, when the harvest takes place, you can visit the plant for processing this beautiful plant and, if you’re lucky, even take part in the process of obtaining oils. Lavender celebrations are usually held in Valensole, Sault, Digne-les-Bains in mid-August.
Features of visiting lavender fields
When going for a walk, be careful: bees are also very fond of fragrant flowers, and snakes can hide in the bushes. In addition, it should be remembered that lavender plantations are someone’s property, so you should not enter the fields and pick flowers without the owner’s permission. It is better to move along the fields along a public road.
Lavender festivals in Provence
In July and August in different cities Provence hosts numerous festivals dedicated to lavender. The holidays of this beautiful plant here are prepared for them carefully and celebrated on a grand scale. Townspeople dress up in traditional costumes, fairs open where you can buy not only essential oils, soap, honey, but also try lavender tea, alcoholic drinks, enjoy unusual sweets from aromatic plants. During the festivals, competitions are held for adults and children, concerts are held, as well as master classes on making lavender oil.
In general, the most convenient form of transport for traveling around Provence is a car; you can go to any village and stop in a field. But if you don’t want to drive a car on vacation, you can book a tour or photo session through the lavender fields.
Happy Travel!