Know Before You Go: Visiting the Lavender Fields in Provence

The lavender fields in Provence come to life each summer. For smaller crowds and blooms that are more purple than violet-gray, time your visit for early July before most of the European and UK school summer vacations start. (Lavender harvesting begins around late July.) For crowd-free photos at popular attractions such as Senanque Abbey (Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque), aim for a sunrise visit before 8am, if you can. The tour buses tend to arrive from mid-morning, when you can expect the lavender fields to be much busier, especially on weekends.

These southernmost Provencal lavender fields sit in neighboring regional nature parks, with the Lubéron Plateau found north of Marseille, and the Valensole Plateau further east in Verdon. The lesser-visited Pays de Sault to the north has a small yet dense concentration of lavender fields plus a cooler mountain climate. Further north still is the Drôme Provencal, which, despite its name, is officially in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. This lesser-known gem is a good pick if you’re keen to skip the crowds.

Marseille and Toulon are big coastal cities that are within a day-trip distance of the Luberon and Verdon areas of Provence, and there are organized day trips from both. If you plan to focus solely on the lavender fields, consider Avignon or Aix-en-Provence, which are still big, but closer and also give you access to the Sault plateau. If you have your own transport, smaller villages including Gordes, Roussillon, Sault, and Grignan offer authentic Provencal stays.

If you have your own car and you only want pleasant scenery, follow the Lavender Route, a driving route marketed by the regional tourist board that’s easy to find online and follow. But, if you want to find the must-photograph fields, learn about lavender production, and shop for souvenirs, then visits to the lavender farms or distilleries are unbeatable, with many offering guided tours. If you don’t have a car, there's a wide selection of day trips from nearby towns such as Aix-en-Provence, Avignon, and Marseille that put the focus on the purple plant along with other Provence highlights.

Booking a guided tour lets you head straight to the lavender fields and attractions that are worth seeing at the time of your visit. Also, while Provence is popular with tourists, there are many places where French is the main language spoken. If you travel with a guide, you’ll skip any language barriers, and get to learn about the cultural heritage of lavender and its production in Provence, too.

Besides essentials such as water and sun lotion, comfy sneakers are a must. Sandals can have a suction effect against the sometimes-muddy ground, making it tricky to walk, so skip those if you’re visiting the lavender fields.

For classic lavender field photos with popping colors, opt for influencer favorites of floaty clothes in block white or yellow with a straw hat that will really stand out against the lilac background. (Or, wear whatever makes you happy for photos unique to you.) Rustic props, for example lavender bunches, can be bought from farm shops for around €5 in cash.

As a rule, most lavender fields are not accessible for wheelchair users or those with limited mobility. Parking can be particularly problematic, too, with limited (or no) disabled parking spaces near the fields.

However, the high-profile lavender site of Senanque Abbey has a parking lot, along with generally well-maintained outer pathways from where wheelchair users can see the blooms and snap photos. Just note that the abbey interior is not wheelchair accessible. Also, keep in mind that many popular hilltop Lubéron villages such as Gordes are steep with old, narrow footpaths, plus they are often crowded with day-trippers in the summer.

Senanque Abbey, the Lavender Museum (Musee de la Lavande) in Coustellet (Lubéron), or lavender farms such as Lavandes Angelvin (Valensole) or the Aroma Plantes Farm and Distillery (Sault) are big natural attractions in the area. Others include the Verdon Gorge (Gorges du Verdon) or Pont d’Avignon, which are magnets for kayakers, and Mont Ventoux, which is popular with mountain bikers and hikers. While they’re not attractions, the small villages of the Lubéron—sometimes called “the perched villages”—are particularly easy on the eye, and are worth a lunch stop or overnight stay if you’re exploring the area.

To reach the popular Lavandes Angelvin in Valensole, you can travel by bus to the St. Gregoire stop from the Provence town of Manosque, which is linked to bigger towns including Aix-en-Provence or Marseille. Bus routes such as this one tend to run infrequently, so check with your accommodation provider or a tourist office for up-to-date information on schedules.

For a stress-free approach, consider round-trip transit options with a driver. Or, a guided day trip from Aix-en-Provence, Avignon, or Marseille, which can take you directly to the fields in bloom, and then back again.

Taking home lavender from Provence is a no-brainer, but never pick the lavender yourself. Instead, head into a distillery or farm, which often have bunches on sale that you can purchase and then take home to dry.

Terraroma Distillery or Lavandes Agelvin are top picks, or there are often gift shops selling lavender-based products in villages such as Valensole. Lavender soap and soap dishes, scented candles, and dried lavender sachets are classic souvenirs, along with other regional produce such as the calissons cookies.

• Where are the best views of the lavender fields in Provence? The D6 route (Route de Manosque) cuts right through the Valensole Plateau, so, chances are, purple views will abound. For more dramatic vantage points, head to the perched villages of the Luberon, such as Bonnieux or Lacoste, where you can look down over the patches of purple blooms. Or, the villages around Sault, such as Aurel, boast views that encompass mountains and lavender at the same time.

• What is the history of lavender in Provence? Provence and lavender go way back. The Romans who came to Provence likely used it as a soothing scent in baths or for herbal medicinal purposes, and it continued to be cultivated through the Middle Ages. However, it was around the 19th century when lavender farming became big business, with the plant in demand from perfume and oil distilleries. Today, the Provence lavender fields are still significant for lavender production, but they also attract tourism, with visitors flocking from around the world to see them.

• What are some facts about lavender in Provence? The two main varieties of lavender cultivated in Provence are fine lavender and lavandin. The classic fine lavender is generally cultivated at higher altitudes, so you’re likely to see more of this in the Sault region, and is used for essential oils. The vibrant-colored lavandin is the long-stemmed hybrid of fine lavender and spike lavender, used in household products, and is cultivated widely in the Valensole and Lubéron plateaus.

• Are there any lavender festivals or events in Provence? Yes, if you’re in Provence in July or August, there’s a good chance you’ll catch one of the annual lavender festivals (fête de la lavande) in the area. Popular events include the mid-July Valensole Festival during which local producers gather with market stalls and live music, while the bigger event is held a month later in Sault, with parades, folk groups, markets, music, and even lavender-cutting competitions. Book your accommodation early in these towns if you plan to visit at this time.