Whether you are a photographer or not, the rolling hills of lavender in Provence are a dream! It’s the kind of scenery that continues to inspire you, and before you know it, you’ve spent the entire day exploring the fields of flowers.
But if you want to see the lavender, you’ll need to plan your trip to France carefully. Otherwise, you’ll miss the fields looking their best before they are harvested.
Here’s my guide on where to find the lavender fields in Provence, France!
How to Get Around Provence
The easiest way to get around Provence is to hire a car. It will give you all the freedom you need to get off the beaten track and discover the region at your own pace!
I rented a Fiat 500 during my trip, and it was the perfect size to maneuver around the small roads in the towns like Gordes and Sault. If you’re not comfortable driving stick shift, you’ll need to book an automatic in advance as there aren’t that many available.
Read More: Essential Tips for Driving in Provence
When to Visit the Lavender Fields
The best time to visit the lavender fields in Provence depends on the region your visiting. It can also change year to year, especially if the rains are early or late.
Here’s a quick guideline to help you plan your trip:
- June: Most of the lavender in Provence will be in bloom by June
- Early July: Early July is the best time to see the entire region covered in lavender, but it’s also super busy
- Late July: The lavender fields in Provence are harvested from around the 15th, but the lower Luberon region only begins cutting down the flowers at the end of the month
- August: August is the tail end of the season, but you can still find some fields (if you’re lucky!)
I visited Provence in August and didn’t think I was going to find any fields. Luckily, there were still a few around, and I discovered some sunflower fields along the way!
For the best photos, I recommend visiting the fields early in the morning for sunrise or at or around sunset. You’ll have beautiful soft, golden light and there won’t be many as many people around.
Read More: The Best Time to Travel to France
The Best Lavender Field Locations
Abbaye de Senanque
Notre-Dame de Sananque Abbey is famous for its rows and rows of lavender outside of the building. There is an entrance fee if you want to explore the abbey, but if you only want to see the lavender fields, you can do so by parking your car down the road and taking photos just before the entrance.
Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque (Click for GPS Location)
84220 Gordes, France
Valensole
Le Plateau de Valensole is known as one of the best places in Provence to see the lavender fields. It’s also home to impressive historical sites, golden fields of sunflowers and charming French villages.
The fields face the sunset here, so it’s the perfect spot to visit for golden hour (the hour before sunset). You’ll have the chance to capture the purple hues against a sky with soft pastels of orange, yellow and pink.
During my search for lavender fields in Provence, I found one of the last fields in Valensole!
Valensole Lavender Fields (Click for GPS Location)
D6, 04210 Valensole, France
Luberon Villages
If you’re searching for those classic French villages nestled between dramatic scenery, you’ll love exploring the Luberon Villages. There are plenty of cobbled lanes to wander down and, of course, endless fields of lavender and sunflowers.
While you’re driving between Bonnieux and Lacoste or Gordes, keep an eye out for the fields! The small village of Rustrel and the Château du Bois are also must visit spots to see the flowers.
Sault
The lavender fields in Sault are more concentrated than those in Valensole. There’s a 5km path you can follow that will take you past some of the best fields.
If you don’t want to walk the whole way, you can rent a bike to get around. Keep an eye out for Mont Ventoux and try to get a shot of the flowers with the mountain in the background!
The path starts at Vallon distillery on D164, or you can head straight to the field that I found!
Sault Lavender Field (Click for GPS Location)
D6, 04210 Valensole, France
Where to Find Sunflower Fields in Provence
While you explore the Provence region in search of lavender, you’ll often see the fields divided by sunflowers. The sunflowers are also usually harvested by mid to the end of July, so I wasn’t expecting to find this field!
Sunflower Field in Provence (Click for GPS Location)
Unnamed Road, 13610 Le Puy-Sainte-Réparade, France
What to Expect
Bugs: This might seem obvious, but no one warned me about the bugs. There are a lot of bees, spiders, and other creepy crawlies covering the flowers. While there’s not much you can do about it, just be mindful and be cautious!
Festivals: Plan your trip around the many lavender inspired festivals like La fête de la lavande in Valensole (mid-July) and Fête de la lavande in Sault (15 August).
Weather: June to August is summer in France. You’ll want to visit the fields early in the morning before the heat of the day kicks in or in the late afternoon when it starts to cool down. The sun only sets around 9 pm, so you’ll have lots of time to shoot!
Overall
The lavender fields in Provence are an experience unlike any other, and it was one of the highlights of my trip. I highly recommend planning your summer vacation to France around the fields so you can see the flowers when they are at their best!
Do you have any tips for finding the best lavender fields in Provence? Let me know in the comments!
Just want to say: congrats for this amazing blog!!!
Absolutely amazing tips & pictures. Just discovered it & have already seen lots of posts!
Keep working on it!
Thank you, Marta!!
Hi!
If I want to see the lavender and sunflower fields in bloom would it be better to go in May or August?
Hey Morgan! It really depends on the year as blooms are susceptible to the weather. And it’s hard to say – things might not be in full bloom in May, so the fields might be a bit sparse, but they might already be cut back in August.