Provence without lavender, its main symbol and the «coat of arms» is impossible even to imagine! The local air is impregnated with its fragrant, heady scent, «forcing» people to dream and to believe in miracles!
The residents of Provence will tell you that the purple colour of the lavender petals comes from mixing the colours of the blood of the earth and the sky. Since ancient times the lavender has always been and will be on this blessed land... Its delicate fragrant flowers begin to bloom in June, closer to the middle of the month. (And the locals gather them from July and until the autumn).
In summer, when it seems that the entire Provence is blooming, several thematic festivals are held here «in honour of» the modest purple flower! According to tradition, these holidays are confined specifically to petals gathering.
Welcome to the fragrant lavender festivals! Here are their names: Valreas, Digne-les-Bains, Ferrassières, Valréas - choose any! Once having got at one of the festivals you will certainly admire the traditional dress of the villagers with sickles, see the cute eared donkeys loaded with baskets of lavender petals ...
Then the music begins to play and everything will spin around in a festive «whirlwind»!
Not far from the Luberon mountains there are the settlements and towns of Gordes, Digne-les-Bains, Sault surrounded by fields of beautiful lavender colour. After admiring them you should go to Coustellet – there is the Lavender Museum in this tiny town!
Gathering fragrant petals is also carried out in the «lavender» Abbey called «Sénanque» which is also one of the symbols of Provence. Severe gray walls of the monastery are «washed with the waves of the sea» of lavender. In this Cistercian abbey founded back in the XII century the industrious monks live. They produce natural essential oil of lavender stems which they gather themselves.
Usually the tourists’ route from the Abbey passes to a charming town of Sault. There are comfortable viewing platforms from which a view over the «scrappy» Provence opens. This magnificent unique coloured picture made up of multi-coloured «scraps» of the fields should be seen with your own eyes – none of the photos will transfer the “breathtaking” views opening before the eyes!
And if you are open to ride a bike – here you will be offered an exciting 20-30-kilometre trip to the «road of lavender». The cycling tour through the lavender fields with their dizzying scent promises to be one of the most bright impressions from visiting the «magic of lavender region» – Provence!
Welcome to the fragrant lavender festivals! Here are their names: Valreas, Digne-les-Bains, Ferrassières, Valréas - choose any! Once having got at one of the festivals you will certainly admire the traditional dress of the villagers with sickles, see the cute eared donkeys loaded with baskets of lavender petals ...
Then the music begins to play and everything will spin around in a festive «whirlwind»!
Not far from the Luberon mountains there are the settlements and towns of Gordes, Digne-les-Bains, Sault surrounded by fields of beautiful lavender colour. After admiring them you should go to Coustellet – there is the Lavender Museum in this tiny town!
Gathering fragrant petals is also carried out in the «lavender» Abbey called «Sénanque» which is also one of the symbols of Provence. Severe gray walls of the monastery are «washed with the waves of the sea» of lavender. In this Cistercian abbey founded back in the XII century the industrious monks live. They produce natural essential oil of lavender stems which they gather themselves.
Usually the tourists’ route from the Abbey passes to a charming town of Sault. There are comfortable viewing platforms from which a view over the «scrappy» Provence opens. This magnificent unique coloured picture made up of multi-coloured «scraps» of the fields should be seen with your own eyes – none of the photos will transfer the “breathtaking” views opening before the eyes!
And if you are open to ride a bike – here you will be offered an exciting 20-30-kilometre trip to the «road of lavender». The cycling tour through the lavender fields with their dizzying scent promises to be one of the most bright impressions from visiting the «magic of lavender region» – Provence!