Lavender Roads: scented immersion in the essence of Provence

Published on 02/04/2025 by CAMPASUN

Lavender, the fragrant soul of Provence, is much more than a simple plant. It embodies the very essence of this land of the South, bathed in sun and bearer of traditions. France, one of the world’s largest producers of lavender, offers travelers a unique sensory itinerary through the Routes de la Lavande. This enchanted circuit, passing through the plateau of Valensole, the village of Sault and the Lubéron, is punctuated by sites dedicated to the enhancement of this iconic flower. During your stay in our campsites near the Routes de la Lavande, such as Le Soleil Esparron de Verdon, Camping de l’Aigle, Camping International Aups, Camping de l’Étang de la Bonde and Les Hautes Prairies, a visit to these places is a must! Then let yourself be enchanted by the sweet scent and beauty of lavender swaying on the fields.

In the footsteps of the Routes of Lavender

The history of lavender has its roots in antiquity, where its medicinal properties and delicate fragrance already made it a popular plant. Over the centuries, its culture has evolved, woven of ancestral know-how and secular traditions, giving birth to a true art de vivre in Provence.

The Lavender Roads, meanwhile, were born in 1996, as part of a Recovery Plan, in response to the crisis that hit the production of this plant between 1980 and 1990. This magical circuit, divided into 9 stages, invites you to a total immersion in the world of lavender: from cultivation to harvest, from distillation to the best-kept secrets of this enchanting flower.

Here are the steps you could take during your getaway in Provence:

• Montélimar – Nyons, between the Drôme Provençale and the Gorges de l’Ardèche.
• Nyons – Sault, on the roads of Ventoux and Lubéron.
• Sault – Valensole, through the Haute-Provence.
• From Valensole to Grasse, through the Gorges du Verdon.
• From Grasse to Barrême, between the Préalpes d’Azur and the Haut-Verdon.
• From Barrême to Digne-les-Bains, in the heart of the Provencal mountains.
• From Digne-les-Bains to Buis-les-Baronnies via Sisteron, through the Prealps of Haute-Provence.
• From Buis-les-Baronnies to Dien, across the Diois.
• From Die to Montélimar, in the heart of the Drôme Valley.

The must-see sites of the Routes de la Lavande

Between ancestral know-how and enchanting landscapes, the visit of the key sites of the Routes de la Lavande allows you to explore all the facets of this plant with multiple shades of purple. During your stay, you will probably not miss the spectacle offered by the plateau of Valensole. This postcard landscape and its effluves are well worth the detour!

Also take the time to go to Lavandes Anglevin, located 40 minutes from our campsite Le Soleil Esparron de Verdon, and 55 minutes from the campsite L’Aigle and camping International Aups. This family farm, nestled in the heart of the Plateau de Valensole, has perpetuated the lavender culture for several generations. You will be introduced to the different stages of distillation.

Also enter the Lavender Museum of Luberon. Through interactive exhibitions and workshops, learn more about the history, culture and various uses of this Provencal flower. Located in Coustellet, this site is 33 minutes from the Hautes-Prairies and 45 minutes from our campsite l’Etang de la Bonde. The distance between these establishments and L’Occitane in Provence is about the same. The visit of this national pride in cosmetics is a must during your stop in Provence. Discover the secrets of making lavender products.

Must-do activities on this tour

Many activities are available to you along the Routes de la Lavande. You can go hiking or cycling in the heart of the fields, in Provencal villages such as the village of Sault or at the Plateau de Valensole. In these spots and throughout the circuit and its different stages, photography enthusiasts will find their happiness. The blue, pink or purple flowers, contrasting with the azure sky, create beautiful paintings.

During your holidays in Provence, you can also participate in craft workshops to learn how to make products with lavender as their main component. Create soaps, scented sachets or natural cosmetics! This type of activity allows an immersion in local traditions. In addition, you will leave with authentic memories.

Finally, if you are looking for unusual experiences, consider a hot air balloon flight over the fields with France Montgolfières. What a pleasure to fly over this unique and typical landscape of the South of France!

Much more than a tourist itinerary, Les Routes de la Lavande are an invitation to discover and awaken the senses. Come and breathe the essence of Provence during your holidays in one of our campsites Campasun, book your stay now!

Meetings and traditions on the lavender route

Exploring the lavender route is an immersion in a way of life where time takes on another dimension. Provence is famous for its lifestyle: tastings of local products, fresh bread bakeries, and colorful markets where lavender meets Provence herbs and sun-soaked fruits. Meetings with artisans and farmers quickly become cultural exchanges, revealing traditions and know-how passed down from generation to generation. Lavender festivals, especially in Sault, punctuate the summer season and provide an authentic insight into the attachment of Provençaux to their plant emblem.

By bike or car, the traveler can choose to travel this mythical route at his own pace, stopping in the many fields and cooperatives for an introduction to the secrets of the distillation of lavender. These stages are also the opportunity to bring back unique memories, from essential oils to handmade soaps, imbued with the scents of Provence. Lavender, much more than a simple flower, is a symbol of this region and a treasure that the inhabitants share with passion and generosity.

The emblematic landscapes and viewpoints of the lavender route

The Valensole Plateau is undoubtedly one of the most photographed spots, where lavender gives way in places to vast areas of amaranth or sunflowers. At the foot of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, the view of the mountains offers a striking contrast with the softness of the floral alignments.

• The region around Forcalquier reveals a vegetable patchwork where olive trees, lavender fields and vineyards draw a natural and cultivated mosaic.
• The Gorges du Verdon offer a more wild setting, allowing you to glimpse through its winding road spectacular views of this unique canyon.
• Mont Ventoux, nicknamed the Giant of Provence, watches in the distance over these fragrant expanses and can be an excellent objective for lovers of mountain hikes.

Standing among these landscapes, many castles and abbeys embody the historical richness of the region. Every turn on the lavender road, a new painting is unveiled, offering a visual oasis that forever marks the lucky travelers to experience.

Best times to explore the route and its festivities

The lavender season usually begins in mid-June and culminates in July, which is a great time to see the fields in full bloom. The beginning of the harvest comes at the end of July and with it, the opportunity to attend typical events such as lavender markets or festivals dedicated to this local wealth. Every year, the village of Valensole celebrates its production through its lavender festival, inviting you to discover the traditions related to this culture. Coinciding with these festivities allows you to fully experience the effervescence around the precious purple strand.

Autumn is also a good time to discover the region in a different way. The harvested fields reveal then the limestone backbone of the land of Provence. And if you pass out of the season of flowers, the route des lavandes retains its charm, with the possibility of cycling on less frequented roads and to walk in the Provencal villages, witnesses of the life that will resume with the next flowering.

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