What color is your summer?
For people around the world, the answer to this question may not be the same; But in Provence, France, the answer would have been purple— the purple of lavender.
The endless purple flowers are beautiful and contrast with the old buildings, forming a retro style that blends fashion and classicism.
Away from the noisy hustle and bustle of the city, wander through the purple world, watch the flowers bloom and fall in front of the court, and look at the clouds in the sky... This French romance, which is only limited to summer, fascinates many people every year.
Lavender is the "soul of Provence", and if you want to experience this romance this summer and don't want to go to too many touristy places, then these places are definitely not to be missed
Valensole plateau | Valençole Plateau
The most famous place to admire lavender fields, the Valensole plateau is located in the Alpes province of Haute-Provence in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region.
Even better, not only are lavenders to watch, but there are different flowers that bloom throughout the year, and the color of the entire area changes throughout the year as the seasons change: in March it is pink almond blossoms; Dressed in purple by lavender from June; From June to August, the sunflower fields are also very charming.
Lavender begins to bud in early June, but generally does not flower until June 15. Basically, from late June to mid-July is the best time to see lavender in Valensol!
Sault | So village
As a place to see flowers, the village of Sault in the vogue of Vaucluse is not so famous, but it is a treasure trove of lavender fields away from the big waves of tourists!
A beautiful village in the Vaucluse region, the historic capital of quality lavender in the Mediterranean region, close to the Ventura Mountains in southern France. It's a high-altitude area where lavender usually blooms late, but the picturesque villages on the plateau are not only the perfect place to enjoy the lavender charm, but also a lavender festival is held in the town every August. Activities can be enjoyed on foot or on bicycles between the villages of Aurel, Saint-Trinit and Saint-Christol.
Not far from here, you can see a medieval monastery surrounded by lavender fields, that is, the Monastery of Senanque. There are also a number of small stone houses called bories around, which are said to have historically been the residences of field workers.
Luberon Valley | Lu Beihong
Luberon Valley, also in the Vaucluse region, is also highly recommended. There are regional natural parks and many beautiful villages, perfect for taking photos and making a big deal out of minutes.
With regional natural parks and many beautiful villages, you can discover relaxing southern France wherever you want, as well as the most beautiful villages in France, such as Roussillon and Gordes.
The beginning of July is the best time to admire lavender here. If you want to learn more about harvesting, producing and distilling lavender, its industry and some interesting regional history, you can also find the Lavender Museum here.
When to go?
In fact, more than every place has a different flowering time. Seeing lavender at different stages at different times is also a good choice for staggering peaks.
In general, from the beginning of May, the stems of lavender and lavender begin to grow. From the beginning of June, the flower spikes begin to pull out, and the fields gradually take on a dark blue color. As temperatures rise, lavender also competes to bloom, and plants produce more essential oils to protect themselves from heat and drought. This is also the best harvest period for flowers. This maturation phase lasts 3 to 4 weeks and is also the best time for everyone to enjoy lavender. In the lowest elevations, the most beautiful flowering period begins in mid-June and lasts until the end of July in the highest areas.
That is, the annual lavender blooms by region: from the Drôme-Diois valley to Haut-Buëch: the flowering period of lavender begins in mid-June, near Crest, and the harvest tends to take place in early July. In Haut-Diois and Haut-Buëch, it lasted until the beginning of August. In some places it can even last until after August 15.
How to get there?
You can take the TGV train to Aix-en-Provence or Avignon, or rent a car and enjoy several scenic routes from the road to the fields.
What else is there to have fun with?
These regions are also famous for rosé wines, so you can take advantage of this opportunity to visit some vineyards or spend some time tasting wines.
In summer, the weather in southern France is hot. If you want to go swimming or enjoy the water, the Verdun Gorge is just around the corner. Although a bit crowded, the canyon is beautiful and a great place to paddle in a canoe.
If you're a hobby of hiking, you can do a (light) hike along the ochre trail near Roussillon. Here, there are two marked paths that take you through the sunset-coloured red-and-yellow cliffs of an ancient quarry.
What else is the charm of lavender?
French lavender is known as the "blue gold" and is a popular tourist attraction every year.
There are two main varieties of this flower in Provence, and there are many uses, some can be used as cooking and bathing oil, some can be used as a perfume for soap, and some can even treat wounds and scars...
In fact, thousands of years ago, when lavender was still a wild plant, it was mainly distributed in the southern foothills of the Alps on the Mediterranean coast of France and Italy, as well as in Spain and North Africa.
This plant, which emits a strong fragrance, has long been valued by the people of southern Europe and North Africa around the Mediterranean Sea. About 2500 years ago, the ancient Egyptians had learned to use this herb for incense and applied it to the making of mummies.
More than 2,000 years ago, in the ancient Roman era, people have recognized that lavender has a certain restorative function on the skin, so the ancient Romans especially liked to add this vanilla plant to the water when bathing. At that time, lavender could be sold for 100 denari (a currency in ancient Rome) for a pound of flowers, equivalent to a month's salary of a farm worker at that time, or the barber's payment for cutting the hair of 50 people.
From the Long Middle Ages to the entire Renaissance, European laundresses would dry their clothes on lavender bushes, so that the dried clothes would be stained with a pleasant and fresh smell. They also used lavender to incense their wardrobes and lockers, which saved their storage from insects.
The real large-scale cultivation of lavender began in the 15th century from the Hertford region of eastern England. By the end of the 16th century, large areas of cultivated lavender also appeared in the southern part of France, one of its native regions. After hundreds of years of development, by the 18th century, mitch in Surrey, England, Lavender Hill in the South End of London, and the mountains around Provence and Grasse in France had become world-famous lavender tourist destinations.