When summer looms in the south of France, certain parts of the countryside turn lavender and put on a marvelous spectacle. That's how beautiful the lavender fields in France!
The weather becomes warmer, the sky more celestial, lavenders bloom, and the atmosphere is filled with a unique floral essence that is synonymous with summer in Provence.
Lavender fields in Provence
El summer It begins in mid-June and ends in mid-August and it is in this period of time that the fields of Provence are transformed into this lavender-colored paradise.
It is true that summer comes to all of Europe and all of France, but while in other parts of the country the landscape is clogged with wild flowers, cherry blossoms or sunflowers there are certain areas of Provence that are stained purple.
Ardèche It is in the southeast of the country and it is an area well known for its trails and forests, obviously summer is a special time to come and visit its popular lavender fields. There are many areas to know, but in general the suggested route is to start in Viviers, then go through Bourg Saint Andèol and finish in Saint Remèze. Once here, having taken hundreds of precious photos, one can visit the local museum dedicated to lavender, Domaine Lavandäis or Musèe de la Lavade.
Bonnieux is a small village that is in the department of Vaucluse, in the Alps region - Côte dÀzur. Its lavender fields bloom in early July and are vibrant in color. They may not be as vast or popular as others, but the landscape of Bonnieux, along with that of the nearby villages of Menerbes and Lacoste is exceptional. Luckily, it has a local tourist office so they can guide you through the area.
El Chateau du Bois is in the province of Luberon, about 1100 meters and provides the complete lavender farm experience. What do I mean? The site is phenomenal: the fields are in a village called Largade -d'Apt, reputed to be the true lavender growers. The height seems to give them a special touch and although the bulbs are more delicate they are distinguished by having a more intense fragrance.
Yes, you only get here on organized tours, worse, we already know that these types of walks in France are very simple. As the destination is popular in early July, I recommend booking early.
Drome it's the best place for those who do not want tours of any kind, but to walk, take photos and stop to admire the lavenders in solitude. There are many trails that can be traversed on foot or by bike. Drôme is a department located in the north of Provence and it is not a very touristy area yet, so hopefully it will be you, the lavenders and a few more. How do you get there? If you are by car it is two and a half hours from Notre-Dame de Senanque, in Gordes.
Lavender fields they are in the village of Valaurie, near the Bordeaux vineyards, and the best time to visit is early in the morning or after noon which is when the colors are great and the fragrance invades the space.
Grasse is a medieval village which is precious and is known as the perfume capital of the world. Yes, it also has fields of lavender that are in the hills of this picturesque French Riviera town. There are many perfume factories here and you can visit them, but in summer you cannot miss a walk through its beautiful lavender fields.
Grasse is between Nice and Cannes, so if you are stopping in either of these two cities you can make a getaway or day trip. Above we name Notre-Dame de Senanque, in the Luberon, a destination that beyond its lavenders is worth visiting because it has a beautiful church.
Luberon is in the center of Provence and is Abbey dates from nothing more and nothing less than the twelfth century. It is really pretty and even more so in summer when it is surrounded by fragrant fields of lavender. It is precisely in the high season, from July to August, that it is full of tourists, so as we always recommend, God rewards those who get up early. Especially when it comes to taking photos without people!
Sault is near Avignon and it is a well-known town because it organizes every year the Lavender Festival. Sault is a mountain destination and is said of its lavender fields are among the best in the country. How purple those hills brush! May meet on foot, by car or by bike, but I recommend the bike because the silence of the pedaling, the tranquility and the smoothness of the movement when riding a bicycle is the best company when the applause should be carried by the landscape.
The festival in Sault is in the middle of August. Another French lavender field is in Albion Plateau. Here it is convenient to have a car the fields are spread over three departments: Dròme, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Vaucluse. In this area is precisely Sault.
They add some 4500 hectares of lavender fields, so when you travel by car or motorcycle it is great, to the sight and to the smell. Obviously, July is the best month to go and always, always, start early. The photos you will take! There are parts where lavenders mix with wheat so purple turns golden ...
Simiane La Rotonde it's a picturesque village in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department, southeast of France. It is on a small hill and the lavender fields surround the village so in summer it is a pearl surrounded by an intense mix of colors and scents. The village itself is small and quiet, peaceful, a lovely destination if you are walking through the south of the country in the height of summer.
The Mausoleum of Saint Paul has its own lavender field, at the back of the old building. It is said of him that he inspired Vincent Van Gogh when he was confined here, because the colorful views never ceased to amaze him. This building was originally a monastery, the Monastery of San Pablo, and later it became a psychiatric hospice which is when he had the painter as a guest, back in May 1889.
Vincent Van Gogh confined himself here, but he only stayed for a year. Anyway in his artistic life this was a very creative year, and when you see the lavender fields in bloom you can imagine why.
La Vansole is an area that has dozens of lavender fields on gentle hills. It is an hour north of Aix-en-Provence and one can drive by following the lavender path on both sides of the road. Also one can stop and walk between them to explore a little. The most popular lavender farm in the area is Lavender Angelvin. There is a cute shop here where you can buy souvenirs, essential oils, perfumes, soaps and much more. All lavender, naturally.
Summing up a bit, By the end of June most of Provence's lavender fields are in bloom. Luberon is the most popular destination and the first but Vansole follows. The best lavender of all is the one that grows at the highest altitude and blooms, therefore a little later.
Early July is the best time to visit all the lavender fields in the region, and if you arrive before the school holidays better because there are fewer people.From mid-July in Vansole the lavender harvestBut in the Upper Luberon and at Château du Bois the harvest begins around July 15.
In the lower part of the Luberon, around Lourmarin, and the lavender fields of Valensole and those around Sisteron, they have their harvest at the end of July, around the 25th. In August there may not be so much splendorSo you should go straight to the lavender fields in Sault or the ones around Banon as they usually bloom until August 10th.