Photographing the Lavender in Provence July 2015
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,321
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Photographing the Lavender in Provence July 2015
Good morning Fodorites,
I am planning our 9 day trip to Provence the beginning of July to photograph the lavender next year and could use some help. I have Stu's amazing itinerary (thanks again Stu) and have the following:
Flights in and out of Marseille
8 nights staying at Les Terraces du Luberon in Bonnieux: http://www.lesterrassesduluberon.fr/index-english.htm
Our main plans are to stay in the Luberon and relax, eat lovely food & drink fabulous wine (for a change ha), and photograph the region. We spent a week in St Remy in 2006 and have been to Avignon, Les Baux etc...
These are the plans so far:
Saturday – London to Marseille
Fly into Marseille arriving at 10:30 from London and drive to Bonnieux – any recommendations for a lovely lunch along the way, preferably outside?
It looks like Maison Gouin in Coustellet is open 15:00 – 19:00 on Sat so we can go out and get stuff for a picnic dinner on Sunday and lunch on Monday. This place comes highly recommended…?
Dinner at Le Fournil in Bonnieux http://www.lefournil-bonnieux.com/
Sunday – Relaxing day – market in Coustellet, photograph a few villages
Lunch: le Castelas in Sivèrgues
Dinner: Picnic on our terrace (maybe drinks at Bastide)
Monday – Kayaking under Pont de Gard
Kayaking http://canoe-collias.com/en/Gard-Boat-Rental.html
Lunch: Picnic
Dinner: L’Arome in Bonnieux
Tuesday – Local area wine touring by Menerbes/Bonnieux (any great wineries to visit?)
Lunch at Le Sanglier Paresseux Caseneuve (by Apt)
Lourmarin evening market and dinner (pick up stuff for tomorrow) - is this a decent market??
Wednesday – Early morning photograph Sénanque Abbey, visit more villages
Lunch: La Ferme de la Huppe http://www.lafermedelahuppe.com/en/restaurant
Dinner: Bartavelle in Goult
Thursday – Cooking lessons at Jean-luc Rabanel in Arles (cant book until next June)
Rest of the day in Arles
Friday – Market day in Bonnieux, visit other villages
Lunch: Auberge des Carrieres in Les Taillades
Dinner: Stuff from the market (savory tartes from the Tarte Man)
Saturday - No real plans
Lunch: Le Pastorale in Cereste
Dinner: la Petite Cave in Saignon
Sunday – Marseille to London
I have also heard that Valensole is great for photographing the lavender and sunflowers - can anyone provide feedback on that - is it worth the trip?
Any tips, great photo ops, restaurants, wineries etc would be appreciated!!
Thank you!
I am planning our 9 day trip to Provence the beginning of July to photograph the lavender next year and could use some help. I have Stu's amazing itinerary (thanks again Stu) and have the following:
Flights in and out of Marseille
8 nights staying at Les Terraces du Luberon in Bonnieux: http://www.lesterrassesduluberon.fr/index-english.htm
Our main plans are to stay in the Luberon and relax, eat lovely food & drink fabulous wine (for a change ha), and photograph the region. We spent a week in St Remy in 2006 and have been to Avignon, Les Baux etc...
These are the plans so far:
Saturday – London to Marseille
Fly into Marseille arriving at 10:30 from London and drive to Bonnieux – any recommendations for a lovely lunch along the way, preferably outside?
It looks like Maison Gouin in Coustellet is open 15:00 – 19:00 on Sat so we can go out and get stuff for a picnic dinner on Sunday and lunch on Monday. This place comes highly recommended…?
Dinner at Le Fournil in Bonnieux http://www.lefournil-bonnieux.com/
Sunday – Relaxing day – market in Coustellet, photograph a few villages
Lunch: le Castelas in Sivèrgues
Dinner: Picnic on our terrace (maybe drinks at Bastide)
Monday – Kayaking under Pont de Gard
Kayaking http://canoe-collias.com/en/Gard-Boat-Rental.html
Lunch: Picnic
Dinner: L’Arome in Bonnieux
Tuesday – Local area wine touring by Menerbes/Bonnieux (any great wineries to visit?)
Lunch at Le Sanglier Paresseux Caseneuve (by Apt)
Lourmarin evening market and dinner (pick up stuff for tomorrow) - is this a decent market??
Wednesday – Early morning photograph Sénanque Abbey, visit more villages
Lunch: La Ferme de la Huppe http://www.lafermedelahuppe.com/en/restaurant
Dinner: Bartavelle in Goult
Thursday – Cooking lessons at Jean-luc Rabanel in Arles (cant book until next June)
Rest of the day in Arles
Friday – Market day in Bonnieux, visit other villages
Lunch: Auberge des Carrieres in Les Taillades
Dinner: Stuff from the market (savory tartes from the Tarte Man)
Saturday - No real plans
Lunch: Le Pastorale in Cereste
Dinner: la Petite Cave in Saignon
Sunday – Marseille to London
I have also heard that Valensole is great for photographing the lavender and sunflowers - can anyone provide feedback on that - is it worth the trip?
Any tips, great photo ops, restaurants, wineries etc would be appreciated!!
Thank you!
#4
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 16,434
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Did you read the section about Valensole in my 2014 revised itinerary? We found the best Lavender fields to be in the Valensole Plateau. Didn't see any sunflowers. However, there are several really great Lavender fields in the Luberon too. We were a little disappointed with the ones around Sault this year.
Stu Dudley
Stu Dudley
#6
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 16,434
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I put the revision date on the last page of the itinerary. E-mail me at [email protected] to get the 2104 version. LOTS of lavender field info in this new edition.
Stu Dudley
Stu Dudley
#10
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,067
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re lavender fields - well you already know about the Abbey in Gordes, but also the road from Gordes to Roussillon had a couple really nice fields. Also, you said you've already been to St Remy, did you go the St Paul Monastery? The lavender there was wonderful, plus there were some sunflowers.
Are you planning to stop in Uzes the day you go to Pond du Gard? Very worth it if you have not been.
Here's my photo of kayaking under the pont du gard
http://www.pbase.com/annforcier/image/151987153
But also one of my daughter swimming under it
http://www.pbase.com/annforcier/image/151987151
Both of those photos were taken at the same time from the same spot.
My favorite of all the villages near Bonnieux was Roussillon with Goult a close second.
Here's my gallery - http://www.pbase.com/annforcier/france_-_provence
Are you planning to stop in Uzes the day you go to Pond du Gard? Very worth it if you have not been.
Here's my photo of kayaking under the pont du gard
http://www.pbase.com/annforcier/image/151987153
But also one of my daughter swimming under it
http://www.pbase.com/annforcier/image/151987151
Both of those photos were taken at the same time from the same spot.
My favorite of all the villages near Bonnieux was Roussillon with Goult a close second.
Here's my gallery - http://www.pbase.com/annforcier/france_-_provence
#11
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 263
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The Friday market in Lourmarin is bigger than the one in Bonnieux... it's really expanded in the years I've been going to the Luberon. I know I'm biased, but I love our Friday market in Bonnieux. Most of the market is on the Place de Terrail, just up the hill a bit from where you'll be staying, and it's so intimate and friendly with lots of local people.
It's a 20 minute drive to Lourmarin. Maybe you could drive over there first (get a good parking spot), and then come back to Bonnieux for the last hour, especially since that will be your "home" village. There's usually music starting around 11 am. We just love the environment of Bonnieux on market day.
Kathy
It's a 20 minute drive to Lourmarin. Maybe you could drive over there first (get a good parking spot), and then come back to Bonnieux for the last hour, especially since that will be your "home" village. There's usually music starting around 11 am. We just love the environment of Bonnieux on market day.
Kathy
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,321
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Lovely pics as always Isabel - you are getting me even more excited!! We didn't make it to those places so will look them up!
Kathy thanks for the feedback...I think we may just decide to stay local! It sounds lovely!
Kathy thanks for the feedback...I think we may just decide to stay local! It sounds lovely!
#14
it does look lovely, doesn't it? I note that it's an Alistair Sawday property - I've used his website a few times but never actually succeeded in staying at one of his properties. is that how you found it?
#15
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 6,534
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,321
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Annhig, I can't remember how I found it....I think just searching tripadvisor. We wanted a place with outside space, a pool with lovely view....but somewhere close enough to town to walk to dinner so Scott doesn't have to drive. This seems like the perfect compromise! We will definitely report back!
Wonderful video Sandralist! The hills add another layer of beauty but also more work! I am definitely going to have to plan I trip to Liguaria...it looks amazing! Thank you!
Wonderful video Sandralist! The hills add another layer of beauty but also more work! I am definitely going to have to plan I trip to Liguaria...it looks amazing! Thank you!
#18
jamikins - those are just the criteria that I use - but because I don't want to have to drive home either so I can drink in the evenings. Not that I'm a lush, you understand, but I do enjoy wine with a meal, as does DH, and generally more than one glass.
Definitely looking forward to your trip report!
Definitely looking forward to your trip report!
#19
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,321
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Understand completely...we definitely enjoy a bit of wine with dinner
We will definitely do a report. We are heading yo Burgundy for a week at New Years so will do a report on that as well!
We will definitely do a report. We are heading yo Burgundy for a week at New Years so will do a report on that as well!
#20
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 546
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm piggybacking off of this request because I am in the beginning stages of planning a last minute trip to Provence (for photography) at the end of the July. We've been to the Luberon numerous times but, not quite so late. We usually go in late June or early July.
I've read many websites that indicate the lavender blooms through August however, several sites say thru mid-July. It's really all over the place. We were there in late June about 10 years ago and it was past peak because it was crazy hot all through June. That said, I know it can be weather dependent but, I'm hoping someone has been at this time of the year and can tell me whether it's just too late. Unfortunately we can't go any earlier.
Is there a specific region where it blooms later?
I've read many websites that indicate the lavender blooms through August however, several sites say thru mid-July. It's really all over the place. We were there in late June about 10 years ago and it was past peak because it was crazy hot all through June. That said, I know it can be weather dependent but, I'm hoping someone has been at this time of the year and can tell me whether it's just too late. Unfortunately we can't go any earlier.
Is there a specific region where it blooms later?