The colour purple
Provence is famous worldwide for its rolling hills of lavender, and there is no better time to enjoy a walking holiday in Provence or a Provence cycling tour than now, in June and July, when the flowers are in full bloom and the smell of lavender fills the air. The purple flowers stand out against the bright blue sky and it is both hypnotising and calming to just stand and admire the picture postcard view!
Provence walking stays and Provence cycling holidays with a fragrant twist!
Lavender is rooted in Provencal culture. Initially, it was cultivated during the Roman era to infuse laundry and baths. It was during the Middle Ages that the plant began to be cultivated in Provence for medicinal purposes and used as a cure for insomnia, insect bites and stings, anxiety and breathing difficulties.
It was during the 19th century that lavender was cultivated and used in perfumes. The large perfumeries of Grasse use the essential oil of fine lavender to elaborate elixirs and today lavender is also found in moisturising cream, ice cream, honey and biscuits.
Lavender is difficult to pick. It grows between 500 metres and 1 500 metres above sea level on the sunny slopes of the mountains of Haute-Provence. The harvest is done during the height of summer (and during the hottest temperatures of the year) as the heat allows the rise of the essential oil and prevents the aroma from evaporating. And it is in Provence that you will find the finest plants and the purest of oils as the lavender produced in the region is AOC classified (a designated name of origin).
There is now a hybrid variation known as ‘lavandin’ – a mix of real lavender and lavender aspic that is more purple in colour but of a lesser quality.
The lavender season is dependant on the climate and the location. Generally speaking, the fields turn purple in the Alpes de Haute Provence region fist, then in Vaucluse and the Lubéron. We have self-guided walking tours and self-guided cycling trips through both regions for you to enjoy. So, book your holiday with a choice of hiking and cycling trails lost in a sea of purple!
