Who says Provence, says lavender. Lavender in the Provence attracts many tourists every year. And rightly so, the landscape turns a beautiful purple and it smells wonderful. But did you know that there are different types of lavender, that the flowering time of lavender in Provence varies by area and that there is a lavender route? No? Then quickly read on!
Different types of lavender
Not all lavender in the Provence is lavender! The true lavender plants – which are quite small and grow at altitudes from 600 meters to about 1,400 meters – have very small flowers. Traditionally, it was grown in places where nothing else would grow. This lavender can be recognised by the fact that each twig has only one twig with flowers.
The small lavender plants with their small flowers have largely been replaced by lavendin. This plant is a cross between spike lavender and true lavender. Lavendin can be recognised by the fact that each twig has 3 twigs with flowers. The plant and the flowers are also larger than the real lavender plant.
The scent of lavendin is very similar to that of lavender. Due to the higher yield, lavendin is often used in essential oils these days, instead of real lavender.
The healing effect of lavender
The Romans already knew that lavender smells good; they already used it to bathe or to wash textiles. But lavender also has other properties. For example, lavender oil has a soothing and disinfecting effect, it helps against itching and a few drops of lavender oil in your bath or on your pillow has a wonderfully relaxing effect.
Products with lavender
By the way, not only lavender oil is made from lavender. Other products with lavender are soap, ice cream, beer, macarons and honey. And in restaurants you regularly come across the famous dessert crème brulée in a variant with lavender flowers.
Lavender distillery Bleu Provence
In Nyons, just 9 kilometres from our gîte, you can visit the Lavender distillery Bleu Provence. In the shop you can buy different products with lavender and in the salon du thé you can also taste different products with lavender, including herbal tea with lavender and lavender ice cream. By the way, for 1 litre of essential oil you need about 200 kilos of fresh lavender flowers.
Guided tours are organised regularly and during school holidays, children can make lavender soap on Wednesday mornings at this lavender distillery.
Flowering time of lavender in the Provence
When lavender blooms differs per area and also depends on the weather. In the vicinity of Le Rêve Provençal, the lavender flowers from about mid-June, while further east and at higher altitudes, the lavender only blooms from the beginning of July. The map below shows when lavender blooms where and when it is harvested where.
Lavendel route
There is also a lavender route that leads past many beautiful lavender fields. The route is coloured in green on the map above. On the accompanying website you will also find information about companies that process lavender and about original lavender-related trips. For example, at Aroma’Plantes in Sault you can make your own oil from your self-picked lavender. You can also follow soap and cosmetic product workshops.
Other unique lavender experiences along the lavender route
At L’essentiel de Lavande in La-Bégude-de-Mazenc, various experiences around lavender are also organised. From June to September you can enjoy a luxurious picnic with regional products in the middle of the lavender fields. Workshops are also organised where you make body oil with lavender. You can also have a massage in the middle of the lavender fields from May to September.
Would you like to enjoy lavender in the Provence yourself? Quickly book our gîte!
At our swimming pool
The first year we didn’t do much in the (already) beautiful garden of Le Rêve Provençal. We did do one thing, though, planting new lavender in the border by the pool. In this way, our guests can enjoy the wonderful smell and colour close to ‘home’.
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