Spent a great week in Provence April '05. Have a shorter break come June 29th for 5 days only. Wondering if it's worth heading back there just for the lavender fields. Any ideas most welcome. Thanks.

If you love lavender(and I do) of course it is) I envy you to be able to return so soon. Go for it.
Lavindin, not a true lavender is cultivated on the Valensole Plateauto view , from the road between the village of Valensole and around Puimoisson. and the "poteau de Telle.
The digne area is also lavandin.
True lavender grows higher in part of the Hautes Alpes around Rosansto La Faure Also in the Dromev alley and Die area.

Thanks for your reply. I hope the fields are blooming by then. I have always wanted to see the lavender fields in bloom.

they will be, the harvesting isn't til late july to early september(depending on the area)
Buy some lavender honey at the many farm stands there and the essence of lavender that I use for wash and cleaning.

We've just come back from the south of France. The lavender in the Drôme had just started to bloom. End of this month should be the perfect timing!

wonderful, makes my decision to head for Provence easier. where would be the best place to base oneself to view the fields? I have seen the pretty postcards of fields in the Abbey something or other (Senanque?).

but that famous abbaye on the many post cards is not as beautiful as the fields in the areas I mention above.

will have to do homework to find out more about the places you recommended Cigalechanta. any ideas for places to stay in that area?

I visited the Abbaye de Senanque in early July a few years ago and it was absolutely beautiful. Just like all the posters and calendars. It was just wonderful to actually be there. There were many other fields in the area. We were staying in Avignon and did a day trip which included Gordes which is where the Abbey is.

tangwa, we stayed in Moustiers but around Sisteron would be where to stay slam dab in the middle of it if I had that luxury, a purpose for a few days.
email the tourist board there and ask.
There is a lavender fete in Ferrassieres which is the earliest, the first Sunday in July.

Thanks, everyone for the input.

MiriamC,

Where in the Drôme were you? That's one of our favorite regions.

Hello,
Have a look at http://www.routes-lavande.com/home.html - it covers all the main lavender growing areas in Provence, harvest times, varieties, route maps, itineraries, etc. I've used it a few times to plan trips through the lavender fields.

We were in a very small town called Chanos-Curson (20 km from Valence). We spent only one night and day there since we were en route to the Mediterranean coast.