Our visit to Provence in France coincided with the lavender’s bloom at its most glorious stage. We saw, smelled and touched lavenders from a sea of purple lavender fields for the first time right before our eyes. We also tasted Foie gras flavoured with lavender. It was an amazingly unforgettable sensory experience of the five senses.
To see such beauty, the fingerprint of God’s creation, I am simply awed by God and filled with thankfulness. Thankful that we were given the chance to see it while we are here on earth. We didn’t planned for it, nor was it possible to plan with just such a perfect timing, since we would never know the weather way in advance.
It is an undeserved privilege. I want so much to share this experience and find ways to help many others to see it, and I will start with my family.
The lavender fields are located in Provence, south-eastern France.
Here is a close up of the map with the route we took. It is a very scenic route, although it is not the only scenic lavender route in France.
The best way to see the lavender fields is to travel by car. You can also hire a taxi, if you don't like to drive.
It is free to see the lavender fields. There is no admission fee. It is a public place, but of course the lands are owned by the French farmers, I believe. You do not have to pay anything, but it costs in petrol and transport, of course.
The best months to visit the lavender fields is late June to mid-August. It also coincides with the sunflower bloom in France, but we didn't get to visit the sunflower fields unfortunately.
The best time to visit the lavender fields are in the morning or in the evening, before it gets too hot with the mid-day sun.
If I am to give a piece of advice from the mistake I made, it would be to wear neutral color clothes in such as white colors, blue color or grey color, so that you would not compete with the color of the lavenders. I have obviously not worn the right attire - wearing a polo shirt with the word "Italy" instead of France. I didn't think about it, before we drove.
Our Little FECS walking along the rows of lavender fields...
and looking out for bees and snails among them...
while mommy was busy taking in all the sight of the lavenders.
Can you spot Daddy FECS in the photo above?
Here are some pictures of memories of our Little FECS with Daddy FECS.
Children don't usually appreciate being at the lavender fields too much, but our Little FECS had been very patient with us, though he got a little tired and impatient too.
Mmmm.... they smelled good :-)
A quaint and romantic shop between Puimoisson and Bra-d'Asse selling perfume, soap and souvenirs made from lavenders. Aren't it pretty and cute?
love the romantic bike standing there as part of decoration...
These lovely bouquet of lavenders are retailed at 12 EUR... I love them, but no, we didn't buy them.
Mmmm.... it smells good :-)
Inside the shop...
We were at the Saturday market at Riez at 11am
We tasted foie gras flavoured with lavenders...
We bought home lavender honey. We saw syrup made with lavender as well as liquor made with lavender, but we didn't try them.
Here is an accommodation possibility near lavender fields. If you prefer hassle-free planning from sight-seeing, below are some lavender travels available, that includes suggestions, itinerary, transport and accommodation.
Lavender Travels
http://www.real-provence.com/lavender.htm
Lavender Itinerary
http://www.real-provence.com/HI-lavender-holiday.htm
Lavender Routes
http://www.theluberon.com/activities/lavender-provence
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?ll=44.063907,5.688171&t=m&source=embed&ie=UTF8&msa=0&spn=0.690758,2.059937&z=9&mid=z4YI885LyLE0.k9tUlrBCDq38
References:
http://www.provenceguide.co.uk/explore/lavender-38-1.html
http://www.moveyouralps.com/en/routes-de-la-lavande/the-routes
www.routes-lavande.com