When and Where to see the Lavender in Provence

The lavender in Provence is something that you shouldn't miss if you're living in Europe.

It's not just the sight of endless waves of purple, but also the sound of thousands of bees. And the smell of the perfume that only thousands of lavender plants can fill the air with.

I've gotten a lot of questions recently on when and where to see the lavender in Provence.

Here's a short run down:

When: The lavender blooms in Provence from the end of June until about mid-August when they celebrate with harvest festivals.

Where: The two main lavender areas I recommend are around Sault and the plain of Valensole. I highly recommend staying in a Gite (a family-owned, restored country manor house) to round out your French experience. The owners may not speak English, but all of the ones I have met are still able to communicate with you.

If you're looking for a place to stay right in the middle of the lavender, I highly recommend La Bastide des Bourguets (The photo above was taken from their property). It's a beautifully restored country manor house. It has spotless huge rooms and bathrooms and a fantastic owner who doesn't speak English, but will make sure you understand her anyway. Open your window from one of her rooms, and you'll see and smell the lavender since it's right outside your door. She also rents out little free-standing houses by the week.