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Inseparable from Provençal history, lavender was first cultivated for its medicinal properties before catching the attention of the Grasse perfume industry and experiencing the growth that explains its omnipresence today in the landscapes of Haute-Provence. Lavender cultivation now stretches from the south of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region all the way to Drôme Provençale, passing through the Luberon, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Mont Ventoux.
Lavender can be used fresh, dried, or distilled into lavender essential oil, depending on the benefits you wish to enjoy. Known as a powerful antiseptic and effective healing agent, it is also a natural home deodorizer and an efficient moth repellent for wardrobes. Lavender-based products therefore come in endless varieties, from soaps and cosmetics to home fragrances, confectionery and herbal teas.
These aromatic herbs, with their intense fragrance and well-known medicinal virtues, come in several forms: fine lavender (true lavender), commonly seen in lavender fields, as well as lavandin, a hybrid variety. It is also known that the Romans already harvested lavender for its beneficial properties.
During flowering season, lavender fields create a magical azure landscape: from mid-June to mid-July, sometimes until early August depending on altitude, the Haute-Provence countryside is blanketed as far as the eye can see in the characteristic blue-violet shades of this fragrant flower.
Several scenic routes allow visitors to enjoy these unique landscapes, from the Durance Valley to the Valensole Plateau. Exploring the Verdon villages above the Lake Sainte-Croix campsite, from Allemagne-en-Provence to Digne-les-Bains via Gréoux-les-Bains, lets you admire stunning mauve fields and stop by local producers selling their goods directly, including lavender honey harvested by bees.
The Valensole Plateau hosts the largest lavender-growing area and is also renowned for its honey, produced almost exclusively from flowering lavender.
Located around 30 kilometres from Allemagne-en-Provence, close to the Valensole Plateau and the small village of Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon, the Verdon campsite is an ideal destination to soak up Provençal scents and explore the Lavender Route. Enjoy a rejuvenating stay among lavender fields and discover the many natural benefits of this local treasure!
The main lavender fields in Provence are located on and north of the Luberon and Verdon plateaus, north of Aix-en-Provence and Marseille, and east of Avignon.
In the plains, flowering generally occurs from mid-June to mid-July, although this may vary slightly from year to year depending on rainfall and temperature.
At higher elevations, around the town of Sault for example, cooler temperatures mean flowering happens later, roughly from late June / early July to late July / early August.
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