Article written by Elisa - Travel Writer & Local in France
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Get Ready for the Provence Lavender Season
With mild winters and abundant sunshine, the region of Provence is always a good idea to visit. Home to vibrant cities, picturesque villages, natural wonders, and an extensive cultural program, there’s something to see in Provence all year round!
If your holidays in Southern France include the Provence lavender fields, then it’s essential to figure out when to see lavender in Provence.
The Provence lavender season is not the same everywhere, and this quick guide will tell you everything you need to know to choose the best time to see lavender in Provence.
Best Time to See Lavender in Provence
When does lavender bloom in Provence? In general, summer is the lavender season in Provence, the best time to visit Provence for lavender. You can see the Provence lavender fields in full bloom from the last week of June to mid-August.
However, the Provence lavender season is not the same everywhere; the best time to see lavender in Provence depends on the altitude of the terrain and weather conditions during the previous months. This means that depending on where you want to go in Provence, you will choose different dates to travel, or – if you are not flexible with the dates – you will choose different areas in Provence.
GOOD TO KNOW: Why do the harvesters not let the lavender fields in full bloom longer? This is so they can extract the lavender oil when it is most potent.
The next chapters provide a quick overview of the best time to visit Provence for lavender by area, and the map will help you locate the different Provence lavender fields.
Provence Lavender Fields Map
This lavender Provence map marks the areas where you can see lavender in Provence. You can read more about the different areas, with our best travel tips, in this quick guide to the lavender fields of Provence.
Lavender Tours in Provence
From Nice:
From Aix-en-Provence:
From Avignon:
Lavender Season in Provence by Region
When is lavender season in Provence? To be sure you will be at the right place at the right time, check out the lavender season Provence by region:
TIP: most of the places mentioned below host lavender festivals – multi-day or day events with various activities related to the lavender. If you know the dates of the lavender festival for a particular place, you will be sure to find the lavender fields in full bloom in that place!
1. Lavender Season Provence – Valensole Plateau
The lavender season Provence will start in Valensole. Because of its lower altitude, the blooming in the Plateau of Valensole starts earlier than in other lavender fields. In general, mid-June to the first half of July is the Valensole lavender season, the best time to see lavender in Valensole. The Valensole Lavender Festival 2024 will be on Sunday, 21 July 2024.
In Valensole, there are also wheat fields and sunflower fields. If you want to see sunflowers and lavender together, visit Valensole in July when the sunflowers are in full bloom.
TIP: this fun road trip Gorges du Verdon + lavender fields covers the lavender fields of Valensole.
2. Lavender Season Provence – Pays de Sault
Because of its higher altitude (800-900m), the lavender season in Provence – Pays de Sault starts later than in the plains. In general, July is the best time to see lavender in Provence – Pays de Sault, and you will enjoy lavender fields in full bloom around mid-July.
In Pays de Sault, the Provence lavender season finishes later, and you are sure to see the lavender fields still in bloom in mid-August, whatever the weather. The Sault Lavender Festival 2024 will be on 15 August, during which locals compete to harvest the flowers using a sickle. Therefore, the lavender in this area is never cut down before this date.
TIP: this Provence lavender route by car explores the best lavender fields in Pays de Sault and Luberon.
3. Lavender Season Provence – Luberon
The Luberon is a massif near Avignon, in central Provence. The beginning of July is the best time to visit Provence for lavender in this area, but it can last longer depending on the weather during the previous months. For example, last year, we visited the Luberon during the third week of July, and it was still good.
TIP: This 4-day Luberon Road Trip visits the lavender fields around the Sénanque Abbey
4. Lavender Season in the Drôme Provençale
In this area, part of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, the lavender season usually goes from mid-June until the end of July.
TO SUMMARIZE: The lavender season in Provence depends on which area you decide to visit. The lavender season Provence will also depend on the weather: the hotter it gets earlier in the season, the earlier the flowering will be in the northernmost flowering areas. On the other hand, a period of cold or rain in May – June will delay the flowering.
So there you have it, the guide to the lavender season in Provence, with everything you need to know to plan your next summer trip to Provence.