The Ultimate Guide to the Best Lavender Fields in Provence (Map Included!)

Lavender Fields Provence Map

Where to see lavender fields in Provence? The best lavender fields in Provence can be grouped into four areas:

• Luberon Lavender Fields (Vaucluse department)
• Sault Lavender Fields (Vaucluse department)
• Valensole Lavender Fields (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department)
• Drôme Provençale Lavender Fields (Drôme department)

For each area, I will tell you the types of lavender and the best time to go. For a total Provençal experience, I will also recommend the most charming places to stay and other fun things to see and do nearby.

Different Types of Lavender in Provence

There are three types of lavender worldwide: fine lavender, spike lavender, and lavandine. However, there are only two different types of lavender in Provence: fine lavender and lavandine.

FINE LAVENDER (lavandula angustifolia) is the typical lavender of Provence; you won’t find fine lavender anywhere else in the world! The fine lavender grows above an altitude of 800 m, and it is a small plant with a single flower per stem.

Traditionally used for medicinal properties, fine lavender became the region’s “blue gold” when the great perfume makers in Provence started using it for their best perfumes.

You need 130 kg of fine lavender to obtain 1 liter of essential oil by distillation. A 1 Ha plantation of fine lavender can produce up to 25 liters of essential oil in a good year, which is why fine lavender is so special!

LAVANDINE (lavandula hybrida) is found all over the world, at altitudes of 0 to 800 m. It is a tall plant with two ramifications, growing in large, round clumps. As its Latin name suggests, it is a hybrid plant, a crossing between the lavender of Provence (fine lavender) and spike lavender, which is little used in France.

The lavandine is less subtle, has a stronger smell than fine lavender, and cannot be used for medicinal purposes. The lavandine fields are very photogenic, but lavandine is less precious and definitely less interesting for lavender producers.

You need 40 kg of lavandine to obtain 1 liter of essential lavandine oil. The lavandine is used for cleaning products and souvenirs for tourists.

Provence Lavender Fields Near Avignon

If you want to visit lavender fields near Avignon, the Luberon is the place to go. Although they are much further, you can also visit the lavender fields in the Drôme Provençale and the Valensole lavender fields from Avignon.

1. Luberon Lavender Fields (Vaucluse)

Located in the Vaucluse department, the Massif du Luberon boasts some of the best lavender fields in Provence. Also known as “Avignon lavender fields,” the Luberon lavender fields are beautiful to see, with the oh-so-pretty hilltop villages and the famous Sénanque Abbey in the background.

These Provence lavender fields near Avignon are at an altitude of 350-700 m, mainly with lavandine.

From the top of the road from Gordes (D177), the view of the lavender fields surrounding the Sénanque Abbey is spectacular. However, this is a popular place, so be sure to visit early in the morning (ideally before 8 a.m.).

If you want to explore these lavender fields, Avignon is a good starting point. This Luberon road trip starts and ends in Avignon and explores the Luberon hilltop villages and beautiful lavender fields.

2. Sault Lavender Fields (Vaucluse)

The Pays de Sault is the capital of fine lavender. Less touristy than other Provence lavender fields, Pays de Sault is a good place to see the real Provençal lavender without the crowds.

For me, this is the best place to see lavender fields in Provence. Here, you will find some bories (traditional stone huts which served as a barn, stable, or a seasonal dwelling in the 19th century), and they look great in the middle of the lavender fields. The combination of lavender fields and hilltop villages here is very photogenic, too.

Located at a higher altitude (800-900 m), summers are not as hot as in other places in Provence, like Valensole. The Pays de Sault is near Mont Ventoux (1,909m) and surrounded by picturesque villages (Sault, Aurel, Ferrasières). Don’t miss visiting all these beautiful places when visiting the Pays de Sault!

To see these lavender fields, Avignon is also a good place from which you can start a road trip or take a lavender tour. With more time, this 5-day Provence lavender route by car from Avignon explores the best lavender fields in Pays de Sault and Luberon.

Provence Lavender Fields Near Aix-en-Provence

The best lavender fields near Aix-en-Provence are in Valensole. Although far, you can also visit the Sault and Luberon lavender fields with this guided tour from Aix-en-Provence.

1. Valensole Lavender Fields (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence)

The Plateau de Valensole, in the department of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, is where you will find the most photogenic Provence lavender fields. For many tourists, this is the best place to see lavender fields in Provence, which means that you won’t be alone.

A few years ago, nobody knew about the Valensole lavender fields or the town of Valensole. Thanks to a Chinese TV show and a couple of Instagrammers hanging around, now tourists from all over the world flock to Valensole during the lavender season.

The Valensole Plateau is located at a low altitude (<600 m), so you will only find lavandine, and it is more impressive. I love Valensole’s beautiful landscapes and the feeling of swimming in a violet sea. Next to the lavender fields, the sunflower and wheat fields are perfect for making beautiful photo compositions. The combination of lavender fields in bloom with harvested lavender fields is beautiful, too.

With some more time available, consider this road trip to Valensole – Gorges du Verdon, which is one of the best road trips in France.

GOOD TO KNOW: In the Valensole lavender fields, mass tourism and disrespectful people are an issue, to the point that some lavender farmers have fenced their fields and are ready to call the police. Wake up early and be one of the first visitors of the day: drones, jumping people, big guided tours, and people picking up lavender everywhere can spoil your lavender experience.

Lavender Fields in Provence Near Marseille

The best lavender fields near Marseille are in Valensole. This full-day lavender tour from Marseille has good ratings and visits beautiful lavender fields and the lovely village of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie.

If you are in Marseille as part of a cruise, consider this Valensole full-day tour, which departs from the cruise port in Marseille.

Lavender Fields Near Lyon and Valence

Not many people associate Lyon or Valence with lavender fields, but the lavender villages of the Drôme Provençale are a 1 hour 45 minute drive from Lyon and less than one hour drive from Valence.

There are no lavender day tours from Lyon or Valence, but it is an easy day trip to plan if you have a car.

1. Drôme Provençale (Drôme)

Drôme is a department that belongs to the region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. However, this area is known as Drôme Provençale because of its geographical, cultural, historical, and climatic proximity to Provence. Technically, you are out of Provence, but with all those lavender fields and hilltop villages, you won’t realize it 😉

The best lavender fields in the Drôme Provençale are around the villages of Grignan, Nyons, Vinsobres, and Mévouillon (capital of fine lavender). From the Drôme Valley to Diois, there are beautiful lavender fields too, and these ones are at a higher altitude, far from the main roads.

And there you have it, the guide to the best lavender fields Provence has to offer and the best tips to plan a memorable trip to Provence. Enjoy!

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