Crimean Provence or lavender fields in Crimea: addresses, flowering time, excursions. Colorful lavender fields of provence in france Where and when does lavender bloom

- one of the main attractions that have become literally his hallmark. Unfortunately, you can see the fragrant purple fields almost only in July (a little +/-, depending on the altitude of the fields). You can view the fields on foot, by bike or by car on one of the many routes (see maps below). There are many fields, they are very different, the most beautiful can be occupied by crowds of Chinese tourists. But you can step aside a little, and you will be alone on the field.

lavender bloom

Approximately mid-June - mid-August, depending on the territory and weather. The best time to travel is the last week of June and July. Lavender is usually harvested from July to September. in the region and Rhone Valley lavender blooms in mid-June. On and Drome Provence— at the beginning of July. blooms in mid-July.

As a rule, fields of wheat and lavender are located side by side, surrounding the lilac fields with a golden sea shimmering in the sun. Sometimes there are fields of sunflowers nearby (they bloom in July-August).

Lavender flowering periods in Provence:

lavender festivals

A trip to the lavender fields of Provence can be completely eaten with a visit to one of the lavender festivals, which are held at different times in several major "lavender" towns. As a rule, the holiday is dedicated to the harvest of fragrant flowers, so after such holidays it is already too late to look at the lavender fields.

Schedule of lavender festivals in Provence:

  • Riez: the last days of July - Lavender fête
  • : Lavender fête. Annual lavender festival in the second half of July (usually the third Sunday in July)
  • Digne: Lavender parade, annually in early August. Late August is lavender day.
  • Thorame Haute: Lavender fête: 2nd weekend of August
  • Esparron sur Verdon: lavender festival in mid-August
  • Sault: mid-August (August 14 - 15) - lavender festival, lavender picking competitions, flower carriages
  • Valreas: lavender parade, flower carriages, folk performances. Every year on the first weekend of August.
  • Along the D8 road between and D953 (4 km north of Puimoisson) there are lavender fields. GPS: 43.896292 N, 6.128771 E
  • Along the D6 between and Riez, about 5 SE from there are beautiful lavender fields at the entrance to Petit Arlane (Centre Naturiste).

Sault and Mont Ventoux

Region Mont Ventoux, including city Sault, northeast of and , includes a number of beautiful lavender fields. East of Avignon, around towns, and Saignon, you can also see the lavender fields. Some of them have picturesque stone buildings - Borie (a large village from Bories is located next to the village).

  • Route 1.

Route 2. Nyon - Vaison-la-Romaine:

101 km, 2 hours and a tail - driving a car.

Route 3. Drome Valley, Diois and Haut-Buech:

169 km, just over 4 hours drive.

Route 4. Rosans - Sault

Region Drome and Hautes-Alpes

126 km, just over 3 hours drive only, not counting stops.

Route 5. Carpentras - Apt

76 km, almost 2 hours drive only, not counting stops.

Route 6. Sault - Forcalquier

114 km, approximately 2.5 hours drive only, not counting stops.

Crimea is covered with lilac-blue carpets from the second half of June to August, depending on the weather, which the lady is very capricious. Those in the know say that the best time for photo sessions in the lavender fields is usually from June 25 to July 10. Later, lavender can also be found, but it may already be dried and not so picturesque, but somewhere it may already be removed.


When lavender blooms in Crimea

We got to the lavender fields near Alushta on July 5th. JSC Alushta Essential Oil State Farm-Plant operates in Alushta, which produces cosmetics based on natural oils, Crimean herbs, clay and healing mud, algae, as well as herbal teas, jams and syrups. During rose bloom - usually from May 25 until mid-June - and lavender - from June 25 until harvest - the company organizes excursions to its fields.


Excursion to the lavender and rose fields by bus

From Alushta there are offers for organized groups, as well as for individuals. It is necessary to leave a request on the page of the official website https://aemsz.ru/ekskursii.html or call by phone, in early July there were two group tours for individuals. The group is taken on a vintage bus to the mountains, treated to Crimean tea, wreath weaving workshops are held, and they are also allowed to collect lavender for themselves within reasonable limits.



The plant's pink and lavender fields are around here.


Excursion to the lavender fields by jeep

The second option to visit the lavender field with a tour of the fields of the state farm is to book a jeep ride from the Jeeping Tour company (+7 978 760 32 25, +7 978 760 32 30, website http://jeeping-tour.ru/) , we have chosen it.


An individual excursion for two cost 5,000 rubles. in 3.5 hours. In addition to the lavender field, we visited observation decks, which offer a view of Alushta and Mount Demerdzhi, in a century-old beech forest, in which they collected the purest mountain water from a spring, drove along the royal road and saw the bridge of the times of Catherine II, and simply breathed the grassy-mountainous Crimean air.

In early July, Crimea is buzzing and blooming, walking along the slopes of the mountains is the best aromatherapy.


At the points of sale of excursions in Alushta, you can buy a similar excursion in the form of a horse ride.


Photo shoots in lavender and rose fields, in wheat

Like it or not, flowering plantations are more exotic than frog legs and oysters for most of us. Guaranteed beautiful photos can be obtained by ordering a photo session. As it turned out, not all lavender fields in Crimea look like postcard views of blooming Provence. Photographers know the best of them, in addition, they understand the most beautiful angles, the best time of day with beautiful light.

You can order a photo session, for example, from Natalia Palenichka (http://palenichka.ru/).



Where in Crimea are Lavender fields besides Alushta

Lavender did not appear in Crimea on its own, it began to be bred in the Nikitsky Botanical Garden on the southern coast of Crimea. In Soviet times, the cultivation of lavender acquired an industrial scale, the Union was proud of the quality of its flowers, we were told that their quality for cosmetic products exceeded Provencal, so France actively bought our lavender. The collapse of the country also affected the lavender-pink theme, many fields were abandoned.


Until now, riding in the mountains, you can see wild lavender, which is densely surrounded by weeds. In one place I saw pink fields that turned into wild - thickets of wild roses. Now many fields have been given to private hands, so they look more well-groomed. Often the distance between the bushes is much less than in Provence, so the photos are less spectacular if you take French pictures as a standard. For me, the Crimean fields have their own charm, what could be more beautiful than the mountain lavender that Sofia Rotaru sang about?


Landscapes closest to the fields of Provence can be found in the Bakhchisarai region, namely in the village of Turgenevka ( locals help find).


Where to look for lavender fields in Crimea (map)

From Simferopol, look for the villages: Vodnoe, Mazanki, Medicinal, Crimean Rose, between Fragrant and Flower. If you are coming from the southern coast of Crimea, you can visit these fields, and at the same time visit the unique Taigan lion park, which is located in the Belogorsky district.

From Alushta, Yalta, Gaspra: Lavender.

From Sevastopol: Uchkuevka, Andreevka, Mekenzie mountains.

Bakhchisaray district: Turgenevka, Tarasovka, Cherished, Kudrino, Shelkovichnoe, Growing.

Special thanks for the photo to the Crimean photographer Palenichka Natalia

This is not photoshop. These are not paintings by artists. Lavender fields are a stunning reality of Provence. Endless, stretching beyond the horizon, the rows of lavender in the French province of Provence are known throughout the world for their unrealistically beautiful and serene views. Extensive lavender fields are scattered throughout the province, but most of them lie in the northern part of it.

Lavender fields on the map

  • Geographic coordinates 43.929024, 5.187149 (these are the coordinates of the abbey that has been growing lavender for many years)
  • The distance from the capital of France, Paris, is approximately 600 km in a straight line.
  • Distance to the nearest airport Marseille 55 km
  • Nimes Ales Camargue Seven Airport is about 65 km away

Soul of Provence

No wonder lavender is called the "Soul of Provence" and "blue gold". During the flowering period (July-August), many corners of the province are filled with truly unreal beauty and fragrance. Colors shimmer from gray-lilac to bright purple. This is due to the climate and weather conditions of different sites, as well as the time of flowering.

The local places with their small village houses against the backdrop of beautiful lilac and purple fields have long attracted artists, lovers of romance and just tourists. Unrealistically beautiful and fabulously attractive landscapes of the surroundings literally drive you crazy, making you believe in a miracle.


What is lavender and why is it grown

Lavender is a beautiful small shrub of the Lamiaceae family with flowers in various shades of lilac, purple and blue. This family also includes sage, basil, rosemary and lemon balm.

Lavender grows in many parts of the world. It can be found in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and even the Canary Islands. Mankind has long appreciated this plant.

The ancient Greeks revered lavender and considered it a noble plant. The Romans used it as a relaxing bathing agent, calling it Lavandula. Also, for a long time people have learned how to produce lavender oil and extract and widely used these products in medicine and perfumery.


Lavender fields today

Modern inhabitants of Provence have long been engaged in the cultivation of lavender on an industrial scale. It is cultivated and improved by many farmers in the region.

Previously, this process was laborious (for example, the collection was carried out by women using ordinary sickles), but since the middle of the last century, lavender-harvesting (if I may say so) tractors and combines have replaced manual labor.


Work went "more fun". Territories of lavender fields began to increase. And now we can say with full confidence that in addition to the Verdon Gorge, located a few tens of kilometers to the east, the Lavender Fields are one of the most impressive sights of Provence.

Provence breathes and lives with lavender. In addition to the mentioned cosmetics and perfumes, lavender is used to produce original honey. Chefs actively introduce it into the recipes of their dishes, adding a kind of zest and originality to the local cuisine.

Lavender and lavandin

In Provence, two varieties of this plant mainly grow - lavender and lavandin. Up to 500-600 m above sea level, lavandin grows (a species bred by breeders), which is mainly used in the production of soap, various creams and cleaning products.

Lavender grows higher, at an altitude of 700 m above the sea. It serves as a raw material for obtaining high-quality essential oils and extracts. It is lavender, for its extremely beneficial properties and indescribable aroma, that is highly valued by manufacturers of cosmetics and perfumes.

The most impressive lavender fields are located in the areas of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Vaucluse and Valensole. It is noteworthy that sometimes against the background of lavender there are fields sown with sunflowers and wheat, creating very beautiful and contrasting landscapes.


When is the best time to visit Lavender Fields?

The best time to walk through the lavender fields is the second half of July, since it is at this time that almost all fields are in a state of maximum flowering. In early July, in some fields you can see only small unopened buds, and from August the harvesting begins. The fields after the passage of agricultural machinery do not look so impressive. Be sure to consider these facts when planning your travel time.

The best option to fully explore the lavender fields is a trip by car. So you can go around the largest areas of the province. You can rent a bike. The downside is the much smaller space seen. However, the pluses include the fact that on a bicycle you can visit places where it would be much more difficult to get to by car. And the most economical (one might even say free) way is to use your legs. Hiking is good for health and no harm to nature. But here is the main drawback - a significant decrease in the area of ​​the examined neighborhoods.

A special place in Provence is occupied by the abbey monastery of Notre Dame de Senanque, founded in the 12th century (its coordinates are indicated just above). Here the monks grow lavender and collect honey. You can buy from them not only honey, but also soap and perfumes of your own production.


Many farms in the area offer their own lavender products. For a small fee, you can arrange a small tour of the farm with lectures on the topic ... of course, lavender.

It is worth paying attention to one interesting place called Lavender Museum in the town of Custelle. This is the lavender museum. Naturally, the entire exposition, one way or another, is connected with lavender, methods of its cultivation and methods for obtaining extracts and oils.

The beauty of the lavender fields inspire the inhabitants of Provence to hold numerous festivals. The largest festival takes place in the official capital of the lavender region, the town of So (Vaucluse district). The holiday begins on August 15 and is dedicated to the harvest of lavender. During the festival, competitions, colorful events and a fair are organized where you can buy everything that is made from lavender. This is honey, soap, perfume, essential oils, or just a bunch of dried lavender.

Lavender fields in photos






Surely everyone has read the fairy tale-story by Alexander Volkov "The Wizard of the Emerald City". A little girl was traveling with her friends through a small town adorned with emerald stones. It would seem that these are all fairy tales and such cities do not exist. But maybe there is no emerald city, but there is a purple one! Lilac town in France. I mean the lavender fields of Provence.

Where are the lavender fields

You can get into this amazing fairy tale of France if you visit Provence, or rather go to Drome Provence to the high Vaucluse - to the Alps of Haute Provence. And somewhere there you will find peace of mind.


In the purple-purple city there was a purple-purple field with purple-purple flowers and a purple-purple sky. This is how lavender fields can be described.


Endless purple fields, paths, clean fresh air full of lavender scent. What else do you need for peace and relaxation in nature!? This endless carpet of lavender flowers is simply mesmerizing! It not only pleases the eye, but also warms the soul!


Once in the middle of such a field, you want to jump, scream, fly! Incredible and magical!


And you know, because such an environment inspires creativity! So, if you are a creative person and looking for inspiration, then even more so go here.


When is the best time to visit the lavender fields of Provence?

To be sure to see all this beauty with your own eyes, it is recommended to visit the lavender fields at a favorable time for this, more precisely from the end of July to August. It is during this period of the year that lavender blooms in “full power”.


In addition, in August you can go to the lavender processing plants. And even if you're lucky, you can participate in the process itself. You will see how essential oils are obtained from a common plant. And the air full of lavender aroma will be remembered for a lifetime!


As you know, lavender branches are very often used in folk medicine. They relieve fatigue, help restore strength.


Attractions in Provence

There is so much more to see in Provence! For example, the northeastern part of Provence is interesting both in winter and in summer. In warm weather, it's nice to just take a walk and enjoy the beauty of narrow river gorges, pine forests and pastures, and in winter - climb the mountains on skis. And above Tarascon rise the majestic walls of the castle of the 15th century in the Gothic style. He will interest you with his elegant and exclusive interior.


The south of Provence will not leave you indifferent either. It will conquer you with one of the most powerful natural springs in the world - the Vaucluse spring. And the Sarg River will surprise you with its most picturesque view. If you look into the village of Vaucluse, you can visit the Gofre eco-museum with a collection of Christmas figures of saints. Also, if you wish, you can visit the Vallis Clausa paper mill and the nearby art market. Nearby is the World War II Museum and the Petrarch Museum.


In a word, Provence and the picturesque flowering endless fields cannot be missed! And if you have a chance and desire to go to this most picturesque corner of the earth, do not hesitate for a minute! Go there!


Yes, beautiful places a lot on earth. Each one is special in its own way.

Where are the lavender fields of Provence located on the map