Provence 2014 for Lavender
 

Where should we base ourselves to,view and explore Lavender fields in Provence in 2014, we will have a car and are thinking about a max of 10 days in PRovence

When is as important as where. We stayed in St. Remy the last week of June several years ago and saw lots of lavender from there. Perhaps the most spectacular can be seen at the Abbaye de Senanque near Gordes.

We liked staying in a smaller, a bit less trafficked village so we stayed in St. Saturnin les Apt. It is perfectly situated to do day trip in all direction to all of the more well know cities and villages in all directions.

There are lots of areas that have massive lavender fields besides the Abbaye, which is the most well known.

We have stayed twice here - http://www.accommodationinprovence.com/

They have FULLY equipped (many have only the basics, these were A-Z in all you needed ) gites, houses and even a chambre d'hote (a B&B type room). The owners are lovely couple from England. Tell David I sent you!

My almost finished TR - http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ugh-france.cfm

We've spent 18 weeks vacationing in Provence, and I don't recall seeing any lavender fields within 1 hour of St Remy. There are many fields/patches in the Luberon - especially near Saignon & Bonnieux. The massive lavender fields are around Sault - but I would not base in Sault.

Some lavender fields com & go - being replaced by whatever crop is being subsidized at the time. There seems to be more non-scenic wheat fields now (and fewer lavender fields & sunflower fields) than there were 12 years ago.

Stu Dudley

Thank you for your replies. We are looking at mid to late July 2014, Stu, where would you recommend in the Luberon as a base? Will we need somewhere with a pool?

We stay in Gites - so my "first hand" hotel recommendations are old.

I would stay close to Gordes. There are lots of hotels on the Route de Senanque (that's the name of the road). In about '95 we stayed at the Domaine de L'Enclos
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev..._Provence.html

It's close to Senanque Abbey (which is in a gorge, so unless you are serious hikers you won't want to walk to the Abbey) and a 15-20 min walk into Gordes. I like staying in/close to Gordes so you can visit Gordes in the early AM or late afternoon when the hordes of day-trippers are not there. Same with visiting Senanque Abbey - which is best viewed in the AM.

La Mas des Romarins is also on the Route de Senanque. Friends stayed there recently & liked it.
www.masromarins.com

Les Bories has a Michelin 1 star restaurant
www.hotellesbories.com

We'll be in a gite in Goult about 2-3 weeks before you arrive.

Early July is better than late July because of the crowds.

Stu Dudley

"Will we need somewhere with a pool?"

It gets very hot in Provence in summer, a pool would be high on my list of priorities.

I don't know if they still do it but the
Regional Toursist Board several years ago sent me a large, beautiful booklet of the lavender routes,beautiful photos and 28 pages.

>>It gets very hot in Provence in summer, a pool would be high on my list of priorities.<<

Yep !!!

On one of our many two-week stays in the Provence, there was a major heatwave - in June. Mid-day we either drove around in the air-conditioned car or jumped in & out of the pool at our gite.

janpeter. Do you have my 27 page Provence & Cote d'Azur itinerary that I've sent to over 3,000 people on Fodors? If not, e-mail me at [email protected] & I'll attach one to the reply e-mail.

Stu Dudley

First time visit to France:
Where would be the best place to stay in first week of July 2014 to see the lavender bloom?

We are open to having a car or not.

Thanks!

Luberon, or near Sault. Not St Remy.

You'll need a car, or find a specialized lavender tour. If you have a car, you can travel on your schedule - not theirs. I once saw a driver on a small tour honking at a woman who was out in the lavender field still taking pictures when the driver had to depart.

Stu Dudley

Stu Dudley

Although I would like to see the lavender fields I don't want to be constrained from enjoying the rest of Provence.

I understand that St. Remy is farther away from the fields. Would you recommend Aix instead? Will we need a car in Aix to see the rest of Provence?

After Provence we plan to go to Beaune (most likely)Burgundy so would like to choose a place in Provence thatwill be a nice compliment/contrast to our stay. I think we might stay in Beaune.

You have to have a car to get around and really see the different villages. If you want to see The villages in The Luberon region of Provence ( have you looked at a map of Provence - it is quite extensive) where there are so many fields, Aix isn't the best location, it adds quite a distance to the trip and going back and forth over that route is a bit much to do on a daily basis. Please see my post above for recommendation on where to stay which will place you in a great area to do several easier drives to see the fields.

There is lots of info online about where lavender is, you can see for yourself. I've never felt constrained by seeing what I wanted in Provence based on where I stay, these places aren't that far apart (I agree Aix is not the best location due to where it is nor St Remy, I only stay in-between Bonnieux and Carpentras, basically). There is also lavender up in the Drome, as I recall, I remember seeing fields when driving around Grignan and Nyons. I like that area a lot better than around St Remy, anyway.

Here's info on the lavender route and a map http://www.beyond.fr/themes/lavender...-provence.html

Agree with Deb & Christina about not staying in Aix nor St Remy.

Stu Dudley

Thank you. I will stay in Luberon for the lavender fields. Which place do you recommend in Luberon? We would like the option to restraunts at night. I have heard that Gourdes is very small and I don't want to drive to restraunts at night.

Also - with 4-5 days to spend in Provence would you recommend we split 2 nights with another spot in Provence like St. Remy or keep one place as our base?

l'Isle sur la Sorgue would be your best bed for many restaurants you can walk to, and also be in an interesting village with shops, cafes, etc. Of course, they are famous for their Sunday morning farmers, craft, and antique market.

Good location too for visiting other sites in Provence. I would stay there if you only have 4-5 nights.

Stu Dudley

Many B&Bs and rentals do not have air conditioning. We will be in Nice June 27th to July 1st and l'Isle sur la Sorgue July 2nd to July 6th. Is air conditioning required?

Some owners are saying that air conditioning is not required because of thick walls but I needed an unbiased opinion.

We live in New York and need air conditioning during our summers. Thank you.

You need air conditioning. Period.

It does usually cool down fairly well in the evening in Provence, and it can be okay outside if there is a breeze. That does not translate to inside, though, where you get much less breeze and ventilation. Thick walls help some, but I've stayed in 2 places in Provence in July without AC and could barely sleep at night. I don't sleep well when it is real hot. And one even had a fan, but it was still about 90 degrees.

It is not going to be real cool inside just due to thick walls. I won't stay in B&Bs for that reason, I now stay only in inns or hotels with AC in Provence.

You are only going to be in Provence for 4 days, you probably can't even rent a place for that time period, have you checked? In season, they usually require a week's rental.

I love this inn which now has AC and is just a bit north of Isle sur la Sorgue, I've stayed there twice. I drive to Isle sur la Sorgue for dinner or the market, etc., it's an easy drive on a main road.
http://www.hotel-lhermitage.com/

I loved this place Christina! I have sent them an email to check for availability.

Google maps shows a 17minute drive. I am fine with that my only concern is that will it be okay to drive at night after dinner and drinks?

Is there something similar in l'Isle sur la Sorgue instead? Thank you in advance.

>>will it be okay to drive at night after dinner and drinks? <<

Uh - where <i>would</i> it be OK to drive at night (or any time) after drinking?

I meant - The whole idea behind staying at l'Isle sur la Sorgue is walking to restraunts. Are there places similar to http://www.hotel-lhermitage.com/ l'Isle sur la Sorgue?

My budget is USD$250/night. Thank you.

This was in the Michelin Red Guide

http://www.le-clos-violette.fr/index_english.html

I think you need to decide whether you want to stay in the countryside in a place with expansive grounds & a large swimming pool - but drive anywhere from 10 to 20 mins to dinner - or a place in the city where you can walk to dinner, shops, cafes, markets, antique shops, grocery, etc.

Stu Dudley

We are staying in Old Nice, Paris and Beaune.

What would recommend for us as a good combination in Provence to compliment the trip.

Countryside or a city atmosphere in l'Isle sur la Sorgue?

Then I would do countryside in Provence. If you are only going to be there for 3-4 days - driving to restaurants would be no big deal. We've spent 18 weeks in Provence - all of them in Gites in the countryside. Even 8 weeks of our 16 weeks along the Cote d'Azur have been spent in the countryside just behind Nice and near Cotignac in the Var.

Do you have my 27 page itinerary for Provence & the Cote d'Azur that I've sent to over 3,000 people on Fodors? If not, e-mail me at [email protected] & I'll attach one to the reply e-mail. We've also spent 2 weeks in Burgundy - in the countryside near Beaune. I did an itinerary for a friend - ask for that one also.

Stu Dudley

I just sent you an email. Thank you.

What countryside should I look for close to l'Isle sur la Sorgue? I am particularly interested in the lavender fields and a nice charming place to stay which I can make as a base to see Provence for 4 to 5 nights.

We've spent 8 weeks in a gite in Bedoin, which has a fantastic Monday morning farmer's market. Lot's of cafes in town and it is the start of the bicycle climb up Mt Ventoux. It about 20 mins from the lavender fields around Sault. We always have a meal at Le Pins - which is a very nice restaurant and hotel. It's about 30-40 mins from l'Isle sur la Sorgue.

Christna's recommendation is in the same general area.

Stu Dudley

I responded on your other thread when you said you couldn't find review of the Hermitage, there are plenty of them.

It is about a 15 min drive to Isle sur la Sorgue, I guess, it's a main road, not busy at all normally, between the two places. There is one of my favorite restaurants in Pernes-les-Fontaines, actually, you don't have to drive to Isle sur la Sorgue if yo udon't want. There are some places closer, including a nice place with live music up the road a bit (no Americans are ever there, it's a place only French people holiday, the Prato Plage hotel and restaurant). My favortiate restaurant in Pernes is this one http://www.dameloie.fr/

YOu could eat there a couple times and not be sorry. I never felt any great need to go into Isle sur la Sorgue for dinner, but you could. I do like one place on the northern edge of Isle sur la Sorgue, though, this one http://www.hotel-cantosorgue.com/
You may think it's a cheesy 2* modern hotel, but they have a restaurant that is fantastic with outside tables on the river, which makes for a cooler experience in summer.

Only you know what you are used to drinking and how it affects you. I do drive after drinking at dinner, but I only have one glass of wine, I am a very good driver (mean I don't speed or ever do reckless things), I am driving probably 1-1.5 hours after finishing the drink, and the country road between Pernes and these places I mention is straight and simple. I also do NOT stay out real late, I get back by 9 usually. Pernes itself is only a couple miles away, and the Prato Plage is probably only a mile.

I just noticed upon viewing the Hotel Cantosorgue website that they don't mention their restaurant any more. I hope it hasn't closed. It was wonderful, neighborhood people would go there to go out to dinner as a special occasion. Well, it's on the road on the way into Isle-sur-la-Sorgue so you could stop and find out or call to see, if you are interested. It's a lot easier than going all the way into Isle sur la Sorgue (La Prevote is the main restaurant of note, there, I believe). But it's going to be more of a production going into that town, finding a place to park, and going to eat there. If you are already there, that's another thing.

This is the Hotel Prato Plage which is up the road a bit. It's a modern hotel on a man-made lake, I think, but has a decent outdoor restaurant with nice tables. They have live music out there some nights, also (all in French, French pop singers, basically). The food isn't stellar, but it's average and a quick and fun place to go. It was sort of cute they got all excited when I was there once because I was an American and they never get them. It is off the beaten tourist track.

Thanks Christina. I am book marking all your notes because we have booked to stay at L'Hermitage.

oh, well I really like the place, I wasn't sure what you were expecting when you were so focused on the bathroom and thought you might be wanting something more like a modern big chain hotel, of course, and if so, you could be disappointed. It doesn't have an elevator, either. I prefer to stay on the first floor for that reason (which is not the ground floor, one flight up), but if you travel lightly it's not a big deal.

I forgot the link to PRato Plage, you could print the directions or something just in case http://www.pratoplage.com/