Lavender fields of Provence: routes and important addresses. Colorful lavender fields of Provence in France Where is the best place to see lavender fields
Mind-blowing lavender fields of Provence in France really exist! If anyone thinks that this is fiction, then he is deeply mistaken and loses the opportunity to see them with his own eyes, but there really is something to admire.
Where are the lavender fields?
Lavender fields must be searched in France in the north of the Provence region. For example, they are not difficult to find near Drôme Provencale, the departments of Vaucluse and the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, where you can also visit Lavender Museum in Coustellet. There are many lavender fields in the area of the city of Valensole, for example in the area of the Verdon Canyon.
Also There are lavender fields near cities such as Apt, Buech, Digne-les-Bains, Forcalquier and also near Sault. There are a lot of lavender fields in the village of Banon and the nearby villages of Avignon, Arles, Grasse, Aix-en-Provence, Gordes, as well as in Drôme Valley (Vallée de la Drôme).
To make it easier to find all these places, we have marked lavender fields on the map below. And also, for your convenience, we have compiled car routes through the lavender fields and at the end of the article detailed description how to get to lavender fields in France.
Description of the lavender fields of Provence
Lavender fields of ProvenceCleanest air lavender scent, endless purple fields, which, depending on the weather and the flowering period, acquire colors from gray-lilac to blue-violet... isn’t it a fairy tale? During the lavender bloom the ground reflects the blue of the high sky so that it seems that you are walking on purple-blue clouds with your feet.
Lavender fields lie between picturesque villages and farms strewn with flowers. Real rural landscapes against the backdrop of stunning lavender fields that inspire many people to creative achievements.
Girl in a lavender field You can admire the lavender fields while walking on bicycles, and when traveling by car. Please note that you will have to overcome quite steep ascents and descents, so auto-walking is more preferable and comfortable. You can also admire the magnificent views and from regular buses, but then you won’t have the opportunity to go out, breathe in this wonderful aroma and take a few pictures for memory. Lavender fields are beautiful place for photo shoots.
Quite often, not far from the lavender fields you can see fields of wheat or sunflowers. The color schemes of golden yellow and lilac combine very well and look amazing in photographs.
Lavender flower Lavender is not only beautiful landscapes, it is used in folk medicine to relieve fatigue and restore strength. Also, essential oils, tinctures, perfumes, soaps, and honey are made from it. It is added to food, ice cream, chocolate, and in Provence you can order dishes made from lavender.
Close your eyes and inhale the sweet, slightly tart aroma of lavender that won't make you dizzy. If you want to hear a more intense lavender aroma, run your hand over the flowering bushes and take a deep breath.
Other photos from the lavender fields:
Safety Warning
There are a lot of bees in the lavender fields, and snakes can hide in the shade of the bushes, so be careful and attentive. Also, if a pregnant woman is near you, make sure that she does not stay here for a long time.
When to visit lavender fields
Cozy place in the lavender field As you might guess, lavender does not bloom all year round, so you need to choose the right time to travel. Lavender Bloom Days from mid-June to August depending on weather conditions. In order not to make a mistake with the dates It is better to go here at the peak of its flowering from late June to mid-July.
If you paint by region, In the Luberon and Rhone Valley, lavender usually blooms in mid-June. But on the plateau of Valensole and Drome Provençal - in early July. The latest lavender blooms in the commune of Seau is mid-July. For your convenience, we have created a convenient lavender bloom map depending on date:
In August, you have the opportunity to visit lavender processing factories and, if you’re lucky, take part in the process of extracting essential oil.
Lavender festivals
Selling lavender If you want to take part in thematic festivals where you can buy lavender oil and soap, bags of dried lavender and much more, then it will be useful for you to know lavender festival schedule:
What else to see in Provence
Abbey of Senank Senank Abbey is also famous for its lavender fields. The monks living there, in addition to growing lavender, are engaged in beekeeping. Finding the abbey is not difficult if you drive from Valensole to Gordes. You can enter the abbey three times a day at 10:30, 14:30 and 16:30. However, if you are not a connoisseur of architecture, then you are unlikely to be interested in this attraction.
In the northeastern part of Provence there are many rocky river gorges, pine forests and pastures. The city of Tarascon is dominated by the walls of a 15th century Gothic castle.
In the south of Provence there is a powerful natural spring, the Vaucluse, and the Sargue River has stunning picturesque views.
How to get to the lavender fields
| If you want to use bus tour for a trip through the lavender fields, we advise you to book it in Avignon. | |
| You can also observe the beauty of lavender fields from the window of regular buses, for example on the Carpentras - Sault or Apt - Sault route. | |
| We will help the lucky owners of cars (or those who rented them) to build their route through the lavender fields. |
Routes through lavender fields
Route 1. Castellane - Grasse
Route length: 73 km
Route 2. Forcalquler - Castellane
Route length: 92 km
Travel time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Route 3. Sault - Forcalquler
Route length: 53 km
Travel time: 1 hour
Route 4. Carpentras - Apt
Route length: 54 km
Travel time: 1 hour
Route 5. Rosans - Sault
Route length: 71 km
Travel time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Route 6. Montélimar - Nyon
Route length: 52 km
Travel time: 1 hour
This is not photoshop. These are not paintings by artists. Lavender fields are a stunning reality of Provence. Endless rows of lavender stretching beyond the horizon French province Provence is known throughout the world for its incredibly beautiful and serene views. Vast lavender fields are scattered throughout the province, but most of them lie in the northern part.
Lavender fields on the map
- Geographic coordinates 43.929024, 5.187149 (these are the coordinates of the abbey, which has been growing lavender for many years)
- The distance from the capital of France Paris is approximately 600 km in a straight line
- The nearest airport is Marseille 55 km
- Nîmes Alès Camargue Seven airport is approximately 65 km away.
Soul of Provence
It’s not for nothing that lavender is called “Soul of Provence” and “blue gold”. During the flowering period (July-August), many corners of the province are filled with truly unreal beauty and fragrance. The colors range from gray-lilac to bright purple. This is due to climate and weather conditions different areas, as well as flowering time.
These places, with their small village houses against the backdrop of beautiful lilac and purple fields, have long attracted artists, lovers of romance and just tourists. The unrealistically beautiful and fabulously attractive landscapes of the surrounding area literally drive you crazy, making you believe in a miracle.
What is lavender and why is it grown?
Lavender is a beautiful small shrub of the Lamiaceae family with flowers in various shades of lilac, purple and blue. This family also includes sage, basil, rosemary and lemon balm.
Lavender grows in many parts of the world. It can be found in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and even on Canary Islands. Humanity has long appreciated this plant.
The ancient Greeks revered lavender and considered it a noble plant. The Romans used it as a relaxant when taking baths, calling it Lavandula. Also, for a long time, people learned to produce lavender oil and extract and widely used these products in medicine and perfumery.
Lavender fields today
Modern residents of Provence have been growing lavender on an industrial scale for a very long time. It is cultivated and improved by many farmers in the region.
Previously, this process was labor-intensive (for example, the collection was carried out by women using ordinary sickles), but since the middle of the last century, manual labor was replaced by lavender harvesting (so to speak) tractors and combines.
Work became more fun. The areas of lavender fields began to increase. And now we can say with complete confidence that, in addition to the Verdon Gorge, located several tens of kilometers to the east, the Lavender Fields are one of the most impressive attractions of Provence.
Provence breathes and lives with lavender. In addition to the mentioned cosmetics and perfumes, lavender is used to produce original honey. Chefs are actively introducing it into the recipes of their dishes, adding a unique twist and uniqueness to the local cuisine.
Lavender and lavandin
In Provence, two varieties of this plant mainly grow - lavender and lavandin. Lavandin (a species bred by breeders) grows up to 500-600 m above sea level, which is mainly used in the production of soap, various creams and cleaning products.
Lavender grows higher, at an altitude of 700 m above the sea. It serves as a raw material for obtaining high-quality essential oils and extracts. It is lavender, for its extremely beneficial properties and indescribable aroma, that is highly valued by manufacturers of cosmetics and perfumes.
The most impressive lavender fields are located in the Alpes-Haute-Provence, Vaucluse and Valensole regions. It is noteworthy that sometimes against the backdrop of lavender there are fields sown with sunflowers and wheat, creating very beautiful and contrasting landscapes.
When is the best time to visit Lavender Fields?
The most best time for walks through lavender fields - the second half of July, since it is at this time that almost all fields are in a state of maximum flowering. At the beginning of July, in some fields you can only see small unopened buds, and in August the harvesting begins. The fields after the passage of agricultural machinery do not look nearly as impressive. Be sure to take these facts into account when planning your trip.
The best option to fully explore the lavender fields is to travel by car. This way you can get around as much as possible large areas provinces. You can rent a bicycle. The downside will be a significantly smaller visible space. However, the advantage is that by bicycle you can visit places that would be much more difficult to reach by car. And the most economical (one might even say free) way is to use your feet. Walking tour It is good for health and does no harm to nature. But the main drawback is a significant reduction in the area of the examined surroundings.
A special place in Provence is occupied by the monastery of the Abbey of Notre-Dame de Senanque, founded in the 12th century (its coordinates are indicated just above). Here the monks grow lavender and collect honey. You can buy from them not only honey, but also soap and perfume of their own production.
Many farms in the surrounding area offer their own lavender products. For a small fee, you can arrange a short tour of the farm with lectures on the topic... of course, lavender.
One thing worth paying attention to interesting place called Lavender Museum in the town of Custelle. This is a lavender museum. Naturally, the entire exhibition, in one way or another, is connected with lavender, methods of growing it and methods for obtaining extracts and oils.
The beauty of the lavender fields inspires the inhabitants of Provence to hold numerous festivals. The largest festival takes place in official capital lavender region town of Seau (Vaucluse region). The holiday begins on August 15 and is dedicated to the lavender harvest. During the festival, competitions, colorful events and a fair are held where you can buy everything made from lavender. This is honey, soap, perfume, essential oils or just a bunch of dried lavender.
Lavender fields in photographs
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 traveling on your own to find blooming lavender in Provence has many nuances that you should be aware of 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.
Information about independent travel There are, surprisingly, not so many in Provence 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
The lavender fields of Provence occupy 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 deals for car rental in Marseille, in the cities of the 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, open all year round to sell 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
From May-September from 9.00-19.00 without a break9 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 Provençal itinerary included very interesting and scenic spots- 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)
Blooming lavender fields are as impressive and world-famous a brand of the south of France as the Eiffel Tower is for Paris or the fortified island of Mont Saint-Michel is for Normandy.
Pastoral pictures of Provence with its bright, neat houses standing in the middle of a lilac field have long attracted painters and photographers, each of whom, to the best of his ability, tried to capture the beauty of these places on canvas or film.
If your travel route passes through the south of France, or you are deliberately planning to travel around Provence in the summer, do not forget to include lavender fields in your route. This is an extraordinary sight, especially at sunrise or sunset. To do this, you will need to know when and where exactly to go, so as not to wander aimlessly in search of the most beautiful fields.
Lavender flowering time in Provence – from mid-June to late August, it reaches its greatest lushness and beauty at the end of July, although this depends on the variety of lavender, climate, weather and latitude in which it grows. Available in Provence and Lavender Festival, which usually falls on August 15 and takes place in the small village of Sault in the Vaucluse department. Seau is located 50 kilometers from Avignon, at an altitude of more than 700 meters above sea level, and is inhabited by only 1,200 inhabitants. The inhabitants of So live by agriculture, primarily by growing lavender and preparing various products from it, so it is given special importance in the village. During the lovely village Lavender Festival, colorful events, competitions, a fair selling lavender products, etc. are held. The upcoming program (in French).
A little general information about these plants:
In Provence, in natural conditions you can see two varieties of plants: lavender And lavandin. Lavender itself grows at an altitude of more than 700-800 meters, that is, on hills, mountain plateaus, etc. Lavender is the main component in the creation of perfumes and cosmetics; essential oils are mainly made with the addition of lavender. Lavandin is another species that grows in fields located below 600 meters above sea level. Lavandin is also used for the needs of the perfume and cosmetics industry, but mainly for cheaper types of products - creams, soaps and others.
Lavender has been used by humans since ancient times; in particular, clear references to this plant have been found since the times of ancient Greek and Roman civilizations, often in the Middle Ages. But the use of lavender reached its greatest flourishing in the 20th century with the development of perfume production near Provence, on the Cote d'Azur in Grasse. “Blue gold,” as lavender is called here, is today cultivated by farmers, many of whom live exclusively from its cultivation, caring for the improvement of the species and its quality.
I will list some “lavender places” in Provence:
In the vicinity of Gordes, four kilometers northwest of it, there is the medieval Abbey of Notre-Dame de Senanque from the 12th century. Around the abbey there are picturesque lavender fields where the monks work. Here you can also purchase products and souvenirs made from lavender or with lavender symbols. The Abbey is depicted on many postcards.
The Valensole plateau is located in Haute Provence. On this huge plateau, covered with lavender to the very horizon, you can get lost for a long time, inhaling the unique smells. To get there, for example, from Aix-en-Provence, you need to go in the direction of Manosque, and then turn to the village of Valensole, which is surrounded by the fields of the plateau of the same name.
In the Alpes Haute Provence department, this main lavender region, you can also go to some lavender farm, where you can arrange a tour or at least a short story from the farmers about this plant. reputation for excellence farm, open to tourists, has Chateau du Bois in Lagarde-d-Apt, which is 20 kilometers from Apt. Chateau du Bois is the oldest (since 1890) production of cosmetic products with lavender. Its owners, Jacques and Sophie Lansolet, also organized a small Lavender Museum, which one . The museum is open almost all year round, with the exception of January. There you can take an audio guide, including in Russian. Is it worth mentioning that here you can buy a variety of products made from real Provençal lavender. Check out the lavender honey!
There are quite a few “lavender routes” in Provence, and they have long been classified for tourists on the website http://www.moveyouralps.com/fr
The site is in French, but when you open the “Lavender Routes” section on the main page, you can switch to the English version. When planning your trip, language is not that important: everything is detailed and intuitive, there are maps. When you click on each of the six main routes, its first and last points, length and travel time are shown. different transport(car, motorcycle, bicycle), the most interesting sights are marked with special signs with stars. Each of the long routes is divided into segments, and you can choose any one that is closest to your planned route through Provence to stop by to admire the lavender for a couple of hours. .
Due to climate change towards warming, lavender begins to bloom earlier in France from year to year, and many farmers by the beginning of July mow and collect plants that have begun to dry out under the scorching sun. This does not mean that, for example, by August you will not find flowering fields anywhere, but it is worth keeping in mind that due to the weather, lush lavender may not be in bloom everywhere.
Those who vacation on the Cote d'Azur are usually interested in those closest to the coast and major cities(Nice, Gangnam, etc.) lavender fields. For this you should go to the mountains on the route Castellane - Grasse, between which there are approximately 70 kilometers of road and many lavender fields (although they are more modest than directly in Provence). The above-mentioned French site suggests starting the journey in the village of Castellane and descending from it along a mountain serpentine towards Grasse, although this is not logical - usually from the coast everyone goes in the direction from Grasse to the mountains. , pay attention to the , through which this "lavender route" passes.
Rent a car for your trip to Provence and Cote d'Azur you can here:
(the largest search engine-aggregator of leading car rental companies provides comprehensive information about the price, car equipment, insurance and other points. All you have to do is choose the best offer for you in terms of price/quality and pick up the car at the point you need)
(unique bays-Mediterranean fjords)
Lavender fields, Provence, France photo
The Abbey of Notre-Dame de Senanque, founded in 1148, would be worth visiting even if there were no lavender fields around it.
14017https://site/interesnie-mesta-krima/plazniy_otdyh_v_krymu/
Few people know that one of the most impressive summer travel There will be an excursion to the lavender fields in Crimea. They are in no way inferior to the famous French ones, which tourists from all over the world come to see. Moreover, you will like it more here, because the largest lavender field in Europe is located in Crimea. A lot of entertainment, holidays and production are organized around this summer flower - lavender is added to food, cosmetics are made, etc. Be sure to visit the lavender fields in Crimea: it’s worth going here at least for a colorful photo shoot or simply contemplating the endless violet expanses. We will tell you where lavender grows in Crimea and how to get there!
Lavender has become people's favorite flower since ancient times. The Catholic Church even recognized it as a sacred plant, therefore, during the ordination of priests, these flowers also took part in the ceremony. Ordinary Catholics made lavender crosses from twigs and decorated the doors of their houses with flowers.
It is believed that the Egyptians were the discoverers of lavender. The plant was used as incense, was part of embalming ointments, and accompanied the pharaohs to the other world.
It is not for nothing that the lavender fields in Crimea attract so many visitors: in the Middle Ages, the flower began to be used for the production of perfume. Later, when they noticed medicinal properties lavender, it began to be grown in large quantities. For example, Hippocrates believed that it heals the liver and spleen and relieves headaches. Parkinson echoed him, considering lavender the best remedy for head diseases. During World War I, the French treated wounds with lavender essential oil.
Nowadays, this amazingly fragrant plant is used in many areas: in perfumery and cosmetology, medicine and chemistry, in food production and in everyday life.
Lavender fields in Crimea
Considers the birthplace of lavender Mediterranean coast France and Spain, in Russia the plant has been bred since 1752. However, then the attempt of Princess Elizabeth ended in failure. In 1813 Nikitsky Botanical Garden again began to plant lavender fields in Crimea. It turned out that the climate of the peninsula is surprisingly suitable for the plant - it does not like a lot of moisture and is not afraid of dry winds.
Under Soviet rule, crops in lavender fields in Crimea became industrial, amounting to 2.5 thousand hectares. It was used in industry Soviet Union, and when it turned out that in some respects the Crimean lavender essential oil was superior even to the Provencal one, France began to purchase lavender flowers in large quantities.
It is known that the largest lavender field in Crimea occupies more than 120 hectares. This plantation is over 25 years old. It is located in the Bakhchisaray district in the village of Turgenevka.
When does lavender bloom in Crimea?
It is difficult to make an accurate forecast of the lavender flowering period in Crimea, since it is influenced by the weather in the spring and other climate factors. As a rule, lavender fields in Crimea bloom in June-July. If you want to definitely get to the bright purple plantations, come in mid-July. Next, lavender retains flowers until August, but gradually its shades become paler. By the way, if you are interested in when lavender and poppies bloom in Crimea, then we inform you that this process does not occur at the same time. Poppies bloom in May, and lavender in July.
It is in July that in the lavender fields in Crimea, every bush flares up in a bright lilac color, like fireworks, and there is a hum above the field - these are bees collecting nectar. The smell of lavender hovers over the entire peninsula both during the lavender harvest period and later, when small bunches of it are already sold by grandmothers at bazaars. If you are lucky enough to get to Crimea at the time of its flowering, look at the lavender fields in Crimea in different time days, the shade of blooming lavender changes depending on the amount of sun (this is important for photo shoots).
Unlike Provencal, Crimean lavender looks a little different. The fact is that in France the plant is planted in rows, but in our country it is planted chaotically. Thanks to this, lavender fields in Crimea look like a uniform lilac sea.
Where are the lavender fields in Crimea 2020
Lavender fields in Crimea have been preserved in many areas of the peninsula, but sometimes it is quite difficult to find them: some of them are abandoned, while others are located far from tourist trails.
However, there are a few well maintained plantations. If you are interested in the lavender fields where they are located in Crimea, we will give you a few coordinates:
- Most of the lavender fields in Crimea have been preserved in the Bakhchisarai region: near the villages of Turgenevka, Kudrino, Shelkovichnoe, Rastushchee, Zavetnoe and Tarasovka.
- Highway Simferopol-Alushta: near the village of Lavender.
- Highway Simferopol-Sudak: near the village of Crimean Rose.
- Highway Simferopol-Nikolaevka: near the villages of Vodnoye, Medicinal.
- Near Simferopol: near the villages of Mazanka and Opushki.
- In the Belogorsky district: near the villages of Aromatnoye and Tsvetochnoe.
- Cape Tarkhankut: near the village of Olenevka.
More small lavender fields in Crimea in 2020 can be found near Sevastopol: in the village of Uchkuevka (at the entrance and near the post office), near the village of Andreevka and on the Mekenze Mountains.
There are many lavender fields around Alushta; in the summer there is even a lavender festival, as well as many master classes and excursions.
How to visit lavender fields in Crimea
If you travel by car, you can see the flowers on your own. There are also special excursions. Thanks to them, you can find out the lavender fields in Crimea where they are located:
- The Alushta essential oil plant conducts excursions during the lavender flowering period, and organizes it in retro style: they take you to the mountains by bus, talk about lavender, conduct a master class on weaving wreaths, treat you to Crimean herbal tea, and even allow you to pick some flowers from the lavender fields in Crimea for myself. The same excursion will be organized on horseback.
- Private tours can be organized by private guides. During the walk you will visit lavender fields in Crimea and observation decks, take a lot of photos, go to cozy teahouses next to the plantations.
For independent tourists, it should be clarified that Crimean farmers do not always welcome guests - sometimes the entrance to the territory is closed in order to preserve the lavender fields in Crimea. In this case, you can walk and admire them from the side.