Lavender Fields in Provence and Day Tour Recommendations

The first part of June is a little early (usually end of June through mid-August is best) but there should be some varieties of lavender in bloom then but it's hard to predict.

This is a website with some good information and map of the lavender routes: http://www.theluberon.com/activities/lavender-provence . I drove from Carpentras through Gordes and Bonnieux, then over and up through Sault and it was wonderful but that was in early July a couple of years ago. Definitely recommend stopping at the Abbaye de Senanque.

Here is another website you can check:

http://www.provenceguide.co.uk/explore/lavender-38-1.html

If you don't have to plan your sightseeing days too tightly, you might be able to check one of these websites while in Provence to see if the lavender is in bloom and then head out to explore. One thing to note, the villages in this area of Provence are worth visiting on their own so a road trip would still be rewarding and there will be lots of flowers blooming and decorating the villages.

just a note about finding an automatic car, I had the same preconceived notion before our trip to France last June. However, we easily found an automatic rental at Hertz and it wasn't even that much more expensive. We drove through the countryside in Normandy and it was so worth it.

Nancy has some great suggestions, but there's a small typo, that might or might not be significant - the abbey with the great lavender patch is Abbaye de Senanque. Markets around Provence will still have lavender soap, even if it's not blooming everywhere. Bon voyage!

Thanks Cyn, it was indeed just a lapse on my part. I knew better. Change has been made.