Breathing in the Lavender Fields in Provence

While a trip to France is hardly complete without a stop in Paris, the country offers so much more outside of the capital city. For a unique experience you won’t find anywhere else in the world, travel to the beautiful French region of Provence, and take in the iconic Lavender fields.

A trip to Provence comes complete with a built-in aromatherapy treatment and some of the most stunning scenery in the world. The region offers vast seas of vibrant purple and blue lavender, a flowering plant harvested for a variety of therapeutic treatments, candles, beauty products, food and more. It produces one of the most versatile essential oils, used for its antiseptic, antifungal, antiviral and antibacterial properties. The flower also gives off a calming aromatic scent that provides benefits for the mind and body.

When you plan your trip to Provence, keep in mind Lavender blossoms are in full bloom in June, and harvested in mid-August. The flowers are abundant in the Provence-Alps-Cote d’Azur region, located in the valleys and hillsides of the southernmost mountains of Massif Central and the Southern Alps, and reach all the way to the coast.

To take in as much of the natural violet beauty as possible, follow the Lavender Roads, and visit Provence’s distilleries, museums and exhibition spaces. Begin in the northernmost part of the production region in the Valley of Drome, Diois and Buëch. Next, stop in the Drôme Provençale in Vaucluse, where you can admire the famous Château de Grignan surrounded by lavender. The next stop on the route is the Baronnies Provençales mountain area, flooded with various types of lavender, each more stunning than the last. The route continues on to the Luberon, where you’ll find the castle of Mane and the iconic Bories, small stone igloos huddled at the foot of the Montagne de Lure. Next on the scenic course is the Valensole plateau, where you can stroll along Lake St. Croix, before heading on to the world’s perfume capital of Grasse in the Riviera Alps.

In keeping with the recent wellness tourism trend, travelers are looking for trips that provide unique experiences along with health benefits. The Provence Lavender fields offer a visual experience unlike any other, along with revitalizing qualities that will leave you feeling refreshed, rejuvenated and relaxed.