My friend and I are spending a few days in Paris this July, and when I read that it was the perfect time to see the lavender fields in Provence I decided to take some days to go enjoy that. We will not have a car, and are hoping to travel by train/bus/taxi exclusively. Any tips on what towns are the best central hub for visiting the Lavender fields? What transit routes are best between Paris and the Provence region? Any recommended tours or must-see sights?
Posted by
Boston, MA
1829 posts
To get in the vicinity the best option would be to take the TGV train from Paris to Avignon
I am not sure how to get from Avignon to the smaller towns where the fields are without car. I am sure there are some public busses to some of the towns but to actually walk in the fields without a car you might be better off joining some type of tour group of the fields.
A car really would be best ; I envision it being very crowded especially if part of a tour ; without a car escaping the crowds could be very tough.
July: it depends when
some places will be full bloom early July ; others full bloom late July ; I believe that is mostly based on elevation but could also be dependent on the type of lavender grown and when the farmer plants it.
Of course the year's weather can change the timing each year and would be too early to know that yet I imagine for this year.
This is a list of festivals (not sure what year so ignore the exact days). Not trying to have you go to the festivals, the point is the festival is to celebrate the bloom so the festival will be right after it is typically cut. Come for the festival date and there may no longer be any lavender in the fields.
Come more than 2-3 weeks before the festival and the lavender in the fields may not be very impressive.
The towns listed would be obviously good places to put on your list and check for public transit to them.
•La fête de la lavande in Ferrassières (early-July)
•Lavande en fête in Barjac (14 July)
•La fête de la lavande in Valensole (mid-July)
•La fête de la lavande in Apt (mid-July)
•La fête de la lavande et du miel (lavender & honey) in Riez (mid-July)
•La fête de la lavande in Barrême (late July)
•La fête de la lavande in Thorame haute (late July)
•Corso de la lavande (parade with floats) in Digne-les-Bains (early August)
•La fête de la bâtie in Thorame basse (early August)
•Corso de la lavande (parade with floats) in Valrés (first weekend of August)
•Fête de la lavande in Sault (15 August)
•Fête de la lavande in Saint André de Rosans (mid August
Posted by
Corvallis OR
7161 posts
I don't know any way you could see the lavender fields without a car other than to take a tour. Avignon probably has the most options for day tours.
Posted by
Nice, France & San Francisco
714 posts
There is some limited bus service, mostly geared toward locals. You could take a lengthy connection from Avignon to Gordes, and then walk to the Abbey de Senanque. Or you can take the bus from Avignon to Bonnieux -- two of the lines dump you out on the main road, a few miles away from the village. The walk there will definitely take you past lavender (and the communal tasting caveau). Instead, you can connect in Apt or Cavaillon (or direct from Aix). There are ebike rentals in town to go explore, so you definitely could spend a night there. As you can tell, this is why people suggest booking a tour or a car to maximize what you can see.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10634 posts
The French theater Festival d'Avignon is July 6-24 this year. Avignon will be extremely crowded at that time.
IMHO stay elsewhere and rent a car if you can't find a tour. The sun can really beat down in July.