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06 12 80 96 82Guide to the Verdon
The most photographed plateau in Provence
The Valensole plateau stretches across some 800 km², at an average altitude of 500 metres, between the Durance and the Verdon. Known as the 'breadbasket of the region', it lives off wheat, truffles and, above all, lavandin — its most celebrated crop.
Each year, the flowering season transforms the plateau into a sea of violet, drawing visitors from across the world. Here is when to come, where to go and how to savour it all without damaging the crops — from neighbours who have made their home just half an hour away.
What makes this experience unique
Guide to the Verdon
Flowering Season
Lavandin blooms in June and July. The mechanical harvest follows shortly after — once a field is cut, it will not flower again until the following season.
Best Time to Visit
Early morning or at sunset: the light is softer, the heat more bearable and the edges of the fields far less crowded.
Respecting the Crops
The fields are private agricultural land. Please keep to the edges, do not pick the flowers and do not walk between the rows.
The Villages
Valensole, Riez (the ancient Forum Reii), Montagnac-Montpezat, renowned for its truffles, and Puimoisson.
Lavender Festival
Valensole celebrates lavender each summer, generally in mid-July. Check the exact date with the local tourist office.
30 Minutes from La Noccemada
Approximately 27 km by road from our estate in Saint-Julien-le-Montagnier.
Valensole · Riez · Puimoisson
A sea of violet, for a few weeks each year
In June and July, lavandin casts the plateau in colour; sunflowers often take over as summer reaches its height.
Lavandin yields honey, essential oils for perfumery and is one of the key ingredients in Marseille soap.
To the south, the plateau descends towards the Parc naturel régional du Verdon, its gorges and the Lac de Sainte-Croix.
BookWhen is lavender in bloom at Valensole?
The lavandin of the Valensole plateau blooms in June and July. The most spectacular period generally falls between mid-June and mid-July, though it varies each year depending on the spring weather. The harvest is mechanical: once a field has been cut, you will need to wait until the following season.
Our advice: plan your stay from the second half of June onwards, and head out onto the plateau early in the morning or towards the end of the day. The light is at its most beautiful, the heat far more pleasant, and the edges of the fields considerably quieter.
Suggested itinerary and etiquette on the plateau
- Valensole — the village that lends its name to the plateau, and the natural starting point for any exploration.
- Riez — an ancient Roman settlement (Forum Reii), at the heart of the plateau.
- Montagnac-Montpezat — a village celebrated for its truffle production.
- Respect the fields — these are private agricultural parcels and the livelihood of local farmers: photograph from the edges, do not walk between the rows and do not pick the flowers.
- Mind the bees — abundant throughout the flowering season, they produce the prized lavender honey: please take care not to disturb them.
- Park considerately — never on agricultural tracks or in front of field entrances.
Where to stay near Valensole?
Approximately 30 minutes from Valensole, La Noccemada welcomes couples in Saint-Julien-le-Montagnier, on the Verdon side. The Lodge Spirit of Bali is a Balinese-inspired private lodge, complete with a private jacuzzi and a 5,000 m² tropical garden, from 349€ per night — a much-loved retreat for those seeking an eco-lodge near Valensole. The Suite de la Bastide welcomes 2 to 4 guests, with a 15-metre pool. The estate is reserved exclusively for adults.
Each evening, Stephan, your private chef — trained in Michelin-starred establishments, grand palace hotels in Geneva, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and Monaco, aboard private yachts and with prestigious companies such as Cunard and Seabourn — offers an exquisite gastronomic dinner served alfresco, by prior arrangement. And for a truly unforgettable memory, the secret picnic by picnics.fr can be set up in the heart of a lavender field: an intimate dinner for two whose exact location is revealed only at the last moment.
Frequently asked questions
FAQ
When does lavender bloom in Valensole?
In June and July. The peak generally falls between mid-June and mid-July, depending on the year's weather. Once the harvest is complete, you will need to wait for the following season.
Can you walk into the lavender fields?
No — these are private agricultural parcels. Please keep to the edges, do not walk between the rows and do not pick the flowers.
When is the Valensole lavender festival?
It takes place each summer, generally in mid-July. Please check the exact date for the current year with the local tourist office.
Lavender or lavandin: what is the difference in Valensole?
The plateau grows mainly lavandin, a more productive hybrid variety. It provides honey, essential oils for perfumery and is an ingredient in Marseille soap.
Where to stay near Valensole?
Around 30 minutes away, La Noccemada offers a private lodge with a jacuzzi for two and a suite for 2 to 4 guests, reserved exclusively for adults, in Saint-Julien-le-Montagnier.
Lavender at dawn, a private jacuzzi by night.
Lavender in Valensole: your guide to the flowering season
From 390€ / night
