Southern France is a place that seems magical, with purple fields that seem lost in the horizon and an incomparable fragrance that catches you from before you arrive; this is the Lavender Tour of Provence. Kilometers and kilometers of this beautiful and aromatic plant grow in this sunny and arid region to offer you a unique view, and a feeling of peace that you will only get when you visit this wonderful place.
Several types of lavender can be found, for example, the lavandin, a drought-resistant hybrid. You’ll find endless rows of this particular species to the east of the city of Manosque and across the sunny Valensole plateau. Another type of lavender you’ll see is the spike (wild) lavender, also known as aspic, with longer stems and multiple flowerheads.
The lavender fields are found in several places in Provence, but the main ones are in the center and north. To see the variety of lavender fields you can start in the Luberon valley and then go to the highlands of Haute-Provence around Sault. Outside these sites and throughout Provence you will find more lavender fields, only not as abundant as these.
Activities you can do…
Every Wednesday local artisans come to sell their products in the colorful market, this is a tradition they have maintained since 1515.
One of the essential activities to do if you go to Provence, is to stay at least one night at the lavender farm of Marguerite Blanc, in Chateau de la Gabelle, near Ferrassieres. The best time to visit is during the lavender festival on the first Sunday in July.
You can’t help but go to the lavender court in the medieval castle of Simiane-la-Rotonde. The aromatic cooperative of this historic city organizes workshops on essential oils, you must book your place in advance.
It is traditional to celebrate the lavender harvest in Provence, approaching one of the many local festivals, each with dance contests, parades, and products, including lavender honey tastings.
Places you can’t miss…
Le Musée de la Lavande: Notre-Dame de Senanque:
If you want to learn more about the traditions and industry of lavender, you can visit the Lavender Museum in the charming village of Cabrieres d’Avignon. There you can learn a lot about how they plant, harvest and distill lavender, as well as a lot of information about the history of the industry, it’s past and it’s present. At certain times of the year, from early July to mid-August, they do a live demonstration of lavender distillation techniques. You will also be able to buy different products made with lavender, such as essential oils and natural cosmetics.
Notre-Dame de Senanque:
This is an almost obligatory stop if you visit Provence. La Notre-Dame de Senanque is a Cistercian abbey located close to the village of Gordes, at the top of the hill, in Vaucluse-en-Provence. What makes it so attractive to the public is its location in a cozy valley and the lavender fields that surround it. It is important for visitors to know that this is a fully functioning monastery and not a tourist site, so they demand respect for tourists, silence and not taking photos or videos during church activities.
When to go
Just before budbreak early in June, fields take on a stunning, silken shimmer, but actual blossom time varies, running from late June into August.
How to find it
Take the TGV (fast train) from Paris Gare de Lyon to Avignon, which takes around 2,5 hours. Apt is 33 miles (53 km) east of Avignon. Regional buses run from Avignon Central Station to Apt and Sault.
Planning
Summers can be sweltering-be sure to rent a car with la climatization (air-conditioning).
Websites
www.beyond.fr, www.chateau-la-gabelle.com, www.simiane-la-rotonde.fr
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