As a kid I was sent to the summer camps of upper Provence, a mesmerizing area with thousands of surrounding lavender fields. To this day, I have kept the same habits I had as a kid, and splash myself with lavender water every morning after a shower, and before I go to sleep (apparently, it helps getting a good night sleep)
From the Cote d’Azur (Nice-Cannes area), the nearest lavender fields are at the Pays de Valensole. The drive up to Castellane is about 1h30. From Castellane, it’s 45 km west across the Gorges de Verdon to Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, at the northern end of the Lac de Sainte Croix. This takes about an hour with the summer traffic, but you should allow some time to stop and enjoy the view as well. From Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, the road west climbs up to the Valensole plateau and directly into the lavender fields. The total journey (one-way) would be about 2-1/2 hours, excluding stopping to look around.
An alternate route would be west on the autoroute to Brignoles (exit 35, about 1 hr), and then north via Barjols, Tavernes, Montmayan, Quinson and Riez (65 km, another hour).
To have a look as fields of wild lavender, drive up to the Plateau de Calern north of Grasse (about 1 hour to 1h30 from Nice). Amidst the rocky terrain and fields of other wildflowers, the hillsides to the east of the telescopes are covered thickly with wild lavender.
11 Comments
Beautiful photos, AAF. The fragrance must be divine.
Some habits never die. I went through a period of utter unhappiness in Oz, a while ago, and I realized that during that period I didn’t have lavender water available….
How lovely! How I wish I could be there.
Will there be a lavender-based recipe forthcoming?
Yes, tomorrow I will reveal my recipe for lavender ice-cream, I still do it once a week, and it’s incredibly popular here in Dingle!
Oh dear. I’m going to end up with an ice cream attachment for the Kitchen Aid yet.
What brand of lavender water, AAF?
Any brand really, as long as it’s real lavender water. Funel is a good brand, from Grasse, a beautiful village perched high above Cannes and Nice.
I was really proud of my little lavender plants until I saw those pictures, AAF! Just looking at them makes me want to go roll in my lavender and enjoy their scent.
I bought some lavender honey the other day, and it is delicious.
I use a lavender-filled pillow to help me sleep at night. When I’m really stressed, I put it in the microwave (it has buckwheat in it as well) and the scent calms me so that it gets me to sleep mre easily.
Thank you for the pictures – now I want to go to Provence!
We grow some here too, but not on that scale. I think we have 4 tubs which keep flowering every spring till autumn.
Oh my, I am an equine massage therapist-I work on abused and neglected horses, and they really enjoy the lavender oil I sometimes use. I have also used a lavender seed sachet in my pillow at night. Come here sometime http://www.lavenderfarms.com.
BTW, your pictures make me so happy. Beautiful French Fields of Lavender!
You must be logged in to post a comment.