One of the most publicized symbols of France is the famous soft lilac lavender field. Looking at such a miracle of nature, it seems that you are looking at an unearthly landscape. The field, as if wading through low hills, goes to infinity and merges with the sky. The pilgrimage site of tourists who are eager to see this miracle is the Provence district. Lavender field in France can be found in other regions, but it is in Provence that it is the longest, and the shade of flowering shrubs is the brightest.
How to get there
The word "Provence" has long been synonymous with all shades of purple. If you want to find at least one lavender field in France, then go to the southern province of the same name. A large number of such fields are concentrated in the Drome-Provence region. This is the most popular tourist route. However, experts note that the most lush and brightly flowering bushes are concentrated in the upper part of Provence, namely in the Alps. And the city of Sol, which is located in the department of Haut-Vaucluse, is officially recognized as the capital of blooming lavender. If you yourself want to explore every lavender field in the region, you will need a rented car. As a rule, people go to Vaucluse on the A7 or A9 highways. If you intend to visit the Alps, then the A51 road is suitable. The Drome department can be reached by the same A7 highway or by the A49 road.
Why lavender?
So, you are already in northern Provence. As a rule, the first thing tourists get into the city of Avignon. The settlement itself is a standard French province, but as soon as you go beyond it, you will find yourself in the abyss of lilac color and the fragrance of lavender. The fact is that in Provence a lavender field is a typical landscape. There are sites that are planted with cultivars, but most of the territory is wild shrubs that bloom annually at the behest of nature. That is why lavender has become an official symbol of this province, and each inhabitant considers it a duty to plant at least one purple bush in his yard.
Detailed route description
We have already said that the Alps located in upper Provence are a territory with the most brightly flowering plants. The main valley of the region is Valensole, which is in the possession of the eponymous town. In the middle of summer this area is simply buried in lilac color and aroma of lavender. From there lies a short route to the village of Digne-les-Bains. Well-trodden tourist routes are not here. Simply, coming here, you can wander in those wild thickets of lavender bushes that bloom most vividly and smell stronger than others.
Cultural activities
When you walk around the expanses of Provence and inspect every field you get tired, you can look into the museum of lavender. It is located in the city of Kustel. It presents all the equipment with which consumer goods are made from lavender flowers . This soap, and shampoos, and creams, as well as a lot of home accessories, scented sticks, bags and so on. On certain days, some items can be bought as a souvenir as a keepsake.
Miracles are at hand
If you don’t have the opportunity to go to France, then you can find exactly the same attraction on the shores of your native Black Sea. Do you know that, like in Provence, lavender fields in Crimea bloom in summer? If you didn’t know, then we hope that this was a small discovery for you. In order to see this lilac miracle, you just need to go to the region of the peninsula where this plant is popularized by natural means or thanks to the efforts of man.
Regions of Crimea where lavender blooms
- Simferopol district. Here, natural lavender thickets can be found in the villages of Opushki and Mazanka. More well-groomed plantations are located in the villages of Medicinal and Urozhaynoye.
- In the Bakhchisarai region, wild, but very picturesque lavender fields are scattered behind the reservoir. More cultivated plantings can be found near Turgenevka, as well as in the village of Growing.
- Neighborhood of Sevastopol. Here lavender fields were preserved near the Uchkuevka beach. Also, the plant can be found on the Mekenzian mountains. Earlier, a lilac carpet pleased the eyes of Andreevka residents, but due to the fire there is now only a small lavender island.
When to go to inspect the lilac carpet?
Now we just have to choose the time to see the lavender fields in all its glory. When do wonderful plants bloom? In the middle of summer, more precisely, from July to August. In Crimea, most of the fields are groomed, because flowering begins early - in early July. The lilac color of the fields disappears only at the beginning of September, since no one collects flowers. If we are talking about Provence, it is best to go here in the second week of July. During this period, the most violent flowering of lavender begins, which lasts until the color is collected for processing. This usually happens in mid-August.
Conclusion
Everyone, based on their tastes and capabilities, can choose where to go to explore the lavender field. Provence (France) - an expensive option, but quite affordable. Here you will be offered a real excursion program, a visit to the museum, the opportunity to see the most diverse varieties of this plant. You can get to the Crimea much faster and cheaper. Often, viewing the lavender fields on the peninsula is compared with a vacation at sea. Without wasting time and money, you can go to Bakhchisarai or in the vicinity of Sevastopol and see with your own eyes a blooming purple miracle.