UPDATED GUIDE 2021
France just reopened! This means you can visit the lavender & sunflower fields in the Provence again. It probably is the most dreamy trip you can make right now. I have visited the lavender fields in England and sunflower fields in Germany before, but they couldn’t beat the fields in the Provence for many reasons. If you are a flower lover you have to visit this area, the smell of lavender alone is worth it! This guide features our experiences of last year, would love to go back with the van!
Practical information
The Provence has two main hubs when it comes to lavender: Sault & Valensole. We stayed in the small B&B Gite Pilpoil in the city center of Sault for € 55 per night. Sault is a charming little town, with the right amount of provencal vibes. It is situated on a hill and looks out over a valley full of lavender fields. The town is just touristy enough to feature a few restaurants, though these restaurants all offer the classic French kitchen with lots of red meat (vegetarians beware). Apparently Sault also has a very good Vietnamese restaurant, which we weren’t able to visit. Sault is a sleepy town, which is exactly why we chose this town during the pandemic. You definitely need a car to get around if you are visiting the Provence, this makes it much easier to visit the quiet villages and go on a search for flower fields. Sault provides sufficient parking spots, though it helps if you are a confident driver who is not afraid to park roadside or on a hill. We also spotted many cyclists, as Sault is located at the foot of the Mont Ventoux. This should indicate how hilly the area is, definitely only suitable for experienced cyclists.
Timing your visit
We visited Sault from 15-19 July 2020 and we found many lavender fields in peak bloom. The lavender fields usually bloom from June until the end of July, with peak bloom at the beginning of July. I was a bit afraid that we visited too late, but this did not turn out to be the case. It also differs which region in the Provence you visit. The lavender in Valensole blooms earlier than in Sault and the higher regions. July is also peak season for the sunflowers, however we found those harder to spot. When we drove to the Provence we drove through Burgundy and we spotted many, many sunflower fields, however they turned out to be more scarce in the Provence. We therefore decided to visit Valensole, as I had some indications that it would be easier to find them near Valensole. Valensole features one of the most famous spots for photographing lavender and sunflowers at Lavande Angelvin. At Lavande Angelvin you can find sunflowers and lavender next to each other, making it possible to capture both in one photo. The fields of Lavande Angelvin are located on top of the plateau de Valensole and the sun sets exactly behind those fields, giving you the opportunity to add the perfect glow to your pictures. Unfortunately, the sunflowers at Lavande Angelvin already turned brown when we visited. We therefore drove on in the direction of Puimoisson, where Hielke was able to spot a gigantic field of sunflowers, absolutely making my day!
I want to make another note regarding the timing of the day. During the day bees are really active pollinating the fields, so you have to watch out for that a bit. I did not find this too troubling in the lavender fields, but I got scared in the sunflower fields. In the sunflower fields bees would sit on me and inspect my feet (??). If you visit early in the morning or late in the evening, the bees are much less active.
Comparing Sault and Valensole
Being a big lavender fan I would recommend to visit Sault and Valensole, however when you are short in time, you can use this list to weigh the pros and cons of each town.
Sault
Pros
- The village is located on a hilltop, giving the perfect backdrop to your lavender pictures. The views from the village over the lavender fields are stunning.
- It is not touristy at all, no Instagram people, you have all the fields to yourself. Affordable B&Bs and restaurants.
- It is located close to one of the most beautiful towns in the Provence: Gordes!
Cons
- Sault is located about 50 minutes from the highway, only accessible via hairpin bends. If you want to visit things outside Sault this is going to take you time.
- It is located in a hilly area, making it more difficult to find a lavender field with a sunset, as the sun sets quickly behind the mountains.
- No sunflower fields!
Valensole
Pros
- Valensole is located on a plateau, making it the perfect place for sunrise or sunset photos. The fields are stretched enormously.
- If you search a bit you will also spot sunflower fields.
- It is located on route to the Gorges du Verdon, another highlight of the Provence.
Cons
- It is a popular Instagram hotspot. Of course this was not an issue during the pandemic, but I guess it could be different next year.
- You have to pass Manosque which has some traffic jams.
- It is less rustic than Sault.
