Lavender Fields

Lavender - the intoxicating smell encompasses everything around. It has long been on my bucket list to visit a lavender field in full bloom.  

Late one afternoon, armed with a dog-eared travel guide, a wishful Pinterest board, and a map, we hit the highway in search of purple.

The first field we found had about a dozen different groups of people spread out among the rows of brightly blooming flowers.  They must have the same travel guide. Nearly all had cameras – some were posing for family photos, some for model shots, or some for Instagram fame. All were reveling in the amazing sight, smell, and sounds of the field.  

As we left the main highway and meandered along smaller roads (aka some paved, some gravel) we left the crowds and found empty fields. Happy bees buzzed loudly. We had packed a picnic and as the sun began to set, we dined with lavender fields on all sides.

The South of France is arguably the best place in the world to find thousands of acres of beautiful, breathtaking lavender fields. The rocky, well-drained soil makes the perfect growing environment.  The typical blooming and harvest season is from mid-July through mid-August. It was late July so some of the fields had already been harvested. Lavender harvest is similar to cutting hay, leaving crisp green rows where the vibrant purple lavender blooms had been.

During our quests for the most beautiful lavender fields, we stopped at small seasonal stores to talk with local farmers. These pop-up markets had lavender-everything:  essential oils, sachets, foods, and bunches of fresh blooms.

If you ever happen to find yourself in the South of France in the summer, the lavender fields are a definite “Must See.”  Some of the top places to find lavender fields include:

·         Terre UGO in Aix-en-Provence

·         Plateau of Valensole

·         Plateau of Claparedes

·         Village of Sault

·         Route de Manosque

·         Luberon Villages - Gordes and Saignon

Bring your camera, pack a picnic, and be prepared for the scent, sight, and sound of a lifetime.

Written for Sonder Travel Magazine Edition 4