Lavender fields of Provence on the map. Lavender fields in Provence (France) Where and when lavender blooms
This is not photoshop. These are not paintings by artists. Lavender fields this is the 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 features and an indescribable aroma, very much appreciated 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 where it 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 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
Surely everyone has read the fairy tale story “The Wizard” by Alexander Volkov emerald city" A little girl was traveling with her friends around small town, decorated with emerald stones. It would seem that these are all fairy tales and such cities do not exist. But maybe there is no emerald city, but there is a purple one! Lilac town in France. I mean the lavender fields of Provence.
Where are the lavender fields?
You can get into this amazing fairy tale of France if you visit Provence, or rather go to Drôme Provence in the high Vaucluse - the Alps of Haute-Provence. And somewhere there you will find peace of mind.
In the lilac-lilac city there was a lilac-lilac field with lilac-lilac flowers and a lilac-lilac sky. This is how lavender fields can be described.
Endless purple fields, paths, clean fresh air full of lavender aroma. What else do you need for peace and relaxation in nature!? This endless carpet of lavender flowers is simply mesmerizing! It not only pleases the eye, but also warms the soul!
Finding yourself in the middle of such a field, you want to jump, scream, fly! Incredible and magical!
And you know, such an environment inspires creativity! So, if you are a creative person and are looking for inspiration, then especially come here.
When is the best time to visit the lavender fields of Provence?
To be sure to see all this beauty with your own eyes, it is recommended to visit the lavender fields at a favorable time for this, more precisely from the end of July to August. It is during this period of the year that lavender blooms in full force.
In addition, in August you can visit lavender processing factories. And even if you are lucky, you will be able to participate in the process itself. You will see how essential oils are obtained from a common plant. And the air full of the aroma of lavender will be remembered for a lifetime!
As you know, lavender sprigs are very often used in folk medicine. They relieve fatigue and help restore strength.
Attractions in Provence
There is so much more to admire in Provence! For example, the northeastern part of Provence is interesting in both winter and summer. In warm weather, it’s nice to just stroll here and enjoy the beauty of the narrow river gorges, pine forests and pastures, and in winter - climb the mountains on skis. And above Tarascon rise the majestic walls of a 15th century castle in the Gothic style. It will interest you with its elegant and exclusive interior.
The south of Provence will also not leave you indifferent. It will captivate you with one of the most powerful natural springs in the world - the Vaucluse spring. And the Sarg River will surprise you with its most picturesque view. If you visit the village of Vaucluse, you can visit the Gofret Eco-Museum with a collection of Nativity figures of saints. If you wish, you can also visit the Vallis Clausa paper mill and the nearby art market. Nearby is the Museum of the Second World War and the Petrarch Museum.
In a word, Provence and its picturesque flowering endless fields cannot be missed! And if you have the chance and desire to go to this most picturesque corner of the earth, don’t hesitate for a minute! Go there!
Yes, there are many beautiful places on earth. Each one is special in its own way.
Where are the lavender fields of Provence located on the map?
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 great 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 onto the hot asphalt of roads to bask. 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 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
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 lavender.
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)
Lavender fields in France (Provence, France) - detailed description, location, reviews, photos and videos.
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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 Tourist 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 hiking trails are laid (they are marked with colored signs 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!
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, Mazanky, 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.
When does lavender bloom?
She is an imported plant, her homeland is the Mediterranean. The answer to the question of when lavender blooms in Crimea depends on the characteristics of the season - the nature of spring can greatly affect the timing of flowering. But on average this period falls on June-July. Therefore, those who want to do beautiful pictures, it is better to choose the period from mid-June to early July.
The color can last until , but by then the lavender dries out and the shades lose their brightness. What is saved? Smell! It is also necessary to take into account the fact that lavender fields bloom to turn into raw materials for the perfume and pharmaceutical industries. Accordingly, farmers will not take into account the interests of holidaymakers, mowing the crop when it is convenient for them.
Champagne or Provence in Crimea
The areas where lavender grows are sometimes called “Crimean Provence” because this old French province also has many such plantings. There - 
native places of this plant. It came to Crimea only in 1813 as an exhibit. However, its properties here are not inferior to those of the Mediterranean.
Lavender is used in the production of cosmetics and medicines, insecticides (to control insects). In Crimea, it is easy to buy aromatic lavender oil in small (5-10 ml) bottles. It is used as a perfume and for aromatic baths. This flower is also a good honey plant; apiaries are constantly set up next to plantations.
However, beekeepers usually distribute pure lavender honey “under the counter” among relatives and the best buyers (for a lot of extra money), since it is extremely highly valued. However, flower honey mixed with lavender is also good and can be bought as a...
Excursions to lavender fields
There are no special tourist routes to lavender fields in Crimea yet. In many cases, tour guides bus tours When driving past one of these wonders, passengers draw their attention to it. The bus may stop, allowing tourists to take photos. But this will be a stop “in between.” An annual Lavender Festival is held in Turgenevka, but this event is little advertised and has a “small-town” status. There are no organized trips.
Farms are more likely to be dissatisfied with the influx of vacationers. Some owners, with the consent of village councils, place guards around the perimeter of the plantings and even dig up roads so that it is impossible to drive up by car. The reason is simple - there are too many “instances” among travelers, 
deprived of basic ideas about the rules of decency. They drive straight into the field in a car and pick whole stacks of lavender.
But a guest with a conscience can admire the lavender splendor even under these conditions. To do this, you will have to leave the car a little to the side and approach the landing on foot - this may take several minutes. You shouldn't go into the field itself - you can see it even better from the side. Please also be a little careful - the smell of the flower is really very strong, and allergies nowadays can be found to just about anything.
Experienced photographers advise taking into account the fact that lavender in Crimea tends to change tone depending on the time of day. So, it can be blue, and lilac, and even pinkish. As a result, to select a complete photo collection, it is recommended to come to the field several times or spend enough time on it to get a full portion of emotional and material emotions.