Hi,
We will be reaching Nice from Pisa, by train via Genoa. I have two nights in Nice before heading to Paris.
I really want to see lavenders in Provence! Since I am coming in August, I am thinking to rent a car from Nice and drive to Sault.
Here is my plan
Day 1 : rent car at Nice and drive to Sault, via Gordes and Rousillon, overnight in Sault.- Main interest is to see blooming lavenders and some picturesque villages.
Day 2: Visit Vaison Romaine, drive back to drop the car at Avignon TGV by evening and head for Paris ?
Is this feasible ? I would really appreciate if anyone has better ideas.
Thanks in advance!
Posted by
Massachusetts
404 posts
When you go to Gordes, go to the Abbaye Notre-Dame de Senanque. Google it. You won't be disappointed.
Posted by
OP
5 posts
Thanks Steve, I really wanted to go there too and luberon but wasnot sure if its worth visiting in august.
Posted by
Ann Arbor, Mi
3696 posts
Have to agree with Steve... it's beautiful!
Posted by
Corvallis OR
7161 posts
A lot of the lavender is harvested by mid August, but there still may be some around. When are you going to be there? You can check the Provence tourist websites for status before you go. Hope you'll get to see it (and smell it), it is wonderful!
Posted by
OP
5 posts
Thanks all for your replies!
I was just curious to know which location will have lavenders blooming during august 1st week ?
We will be near Gordes. I would like to know which place to visit for lavender and how far would that be if I rent a car!
Thanks very much in advance!
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33831 posts
Best to check the various tourist info TI sites for the areas you will be in for the most recent information.
I too expect much of it will be harvested by the first week in August.
The checking we would do would be the same way as you so it may as well be you, and then you can adjust instantly.
Posted by
Somerville, MA
653 posts
Was there last week.
No lavender in the cote de Rhone.
Much of it on the drive between the abbey and Joucas.
The abbey parking lot was full at 11am when we arrived. We bailed but took some beautiful pictures from the view point above the town.
Not much in Roussillon.
You may just want to concentrate on Sault.
I've been in France for 3 weeks now, visiting some of the most touristed non-paris sites in the country and Gordes and the abbey have been, hands down, the most crowded with tourists.
Posted by
Birmingham AL
346 posts
Matt, was there still Lavendar at the Abbey?
Posted by
Somerville, MA
653 posts
Oh yes. Lots of it.
Posted by
South Bay Area
94 posts
We were in the Luberon area just over a week ago. We saw oceans of lavender in full bloom in Valensole, more so than Sault (where Fine Lavender is grown, as opposed to lavadine which is grown in lower elevation, below 800m). Most fields, we are told are harvested by end of July, though.
Posted by
Corvallis OR
7161 posts
Definitely a good idea to check the status of the lavender on your proposed route just before you go. When I stayed in Roussillon a couple of years ago (this was mid-July), I saw beautiful fields of lavender on the route I planned to take the next day for photos. By mid-morning the next day those fields had been harvested - poof gone. When they harvest a field it doesn't take long. Of course there were plenty of other fields still blooming but I'm just passing on a personal experience.
Posted by
Napa, CA, USA
16 posts
I am not sure about lavender in August, but a possibility i recommend is to spend Tuesday night in Stn Remy de Provence and go to the lovely Wednesday market. Then go down the street, drive, there's parking, at the sanitarium where van Gogh lived and worked. It has a lavender garden and posters of his paintings made while he was there are scattered around. A bonus is the nearby roman ruins.
About Vaison - Romaine - just speaking for myself - underwhelming. You might be disappointed if you go out of you way just to go there.Jmho.