You’re probably reading this blog because you’ve seen the gorgeous photos of seas of purple in the South of France. The lavender fields in full bloom are truly a marvel to witness, and lavender is a staple of Provence. If you’re coming to France specifically to see the fields in full bloom, you’ll need to plan ahead. In this blog I’ll give you the best advice for visiting the lavender fields in Provence, France.
When to Plan
The fields are only in full bloom for about 2-2.5 weeks in the summer, and the weeks vary depending on where you go. The most famous fields are between the city Valensole and the Gorges du Verdon National Park region. At the beginning of June they won’t be as vibrant, and by the second week of July is when they’re harvested. The best time to go are the last few days of June through the 13-16 of July to capture the beauty.
How to Get There
You’ll need to rent a car to get to the region. I suggest flying into Nice so you can spend a few days in the Riviera, but you can also fly into Marseille. Renting a car is easy from the Nice airport and it’s about a two and a half hour drive to the closest fields. There are guided tour options if you don’t feel comfortable renting a car, but you wouldn’t have the freedom to explore as you would on your own.
Where to Go to Find the Best Lavender Fields in France
There are hundreds of lavender and sunflower fields in Provence, and some are more photographed and aesthetically pleasing than others (though ALL lavender fields are beautiful, we don’t discriminate here!). When you drive through the region you’ll see them on either side of the road, up on the hills and all around you. My suggestion is to go to the Valensole and Gorges du Verdon/Lac de Sainte-Croix region. The road highlighted in the map below is full of gorgeous lavender and sunflower fields, and the best are marked around the city of Valensole.
As you can see from the map, you’ll start seeing the first fields just after you cross the bridge on Lac de Sainte-Croix just before the village of Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon (if coming from Nice). The first one is located on a hill which is beautiful for photos, but it sneaks up on you coming around the curvy roads so make sure to drive slowly and be mindful of people behind you when pulling over.
As a note: It’s important to be respectful of the farmers and their fields, and it’s prohibited to pick the lavender. Admire their beauty and delicious smell, take your photos, and enjoy the experience without disruption so we can all continue to visit them year after year.