"Lavender is the soul of upper Provence" - Jean GIONO

In summertime, the beautifully coloured fields are softly caressed by the wind and seem like a blue sea. Lavender is a Mediterranean plant and is the most popular of aromatic plants known for its perfume and therapeutic virtues. The Romans already used it for its olfactory qualities. Moreover, the word "Lavender" comes from de verb "laver" that means to wash.

In the early days, it was a wild plant, growing on the rocky limestone soils, and picked by farmers and shepherds. It is only in the beginning of the 20th century that lavender start to be cultivated. The first flowers appear in June and are cut of at the end of July or beginning of August.

Lavender fields can be admired and distilleries visited around the Mount Ventoux or around the Luberon mountain range.

The Luberon stretches between Cavaillon and Manosque. It is divided in 2 massifs: Le petit Luberon and Le grand Luberon. A large part was made into a natural park in 1977.

By driving through the Luberon, you will discover a very beautiful countryside with extraordinary sites and some wonderful stone constructions called "Bories" made by shepherds and farmers with the stones they found in the fields. These strange huts are built in various shapes and the dry stone construction even covers the roof.

This massif presents also many exceptional villages remarkably set in the surrounding countryside. Most of them have been built in the Middle Ages and were constructed in the mountains for defensive necessities.

The population was then grouped around the castles inside the ramparts that protected them from possible enemy invasions (Bonnieux, Ménerbes…).

All offer fascinating architectural walks with many ancient monuments from the Middle Ages to the 19th century: castles, fountains, churches and bell towers.

It is a real pleasure to wander in the small streets admiring the houses that are very well preserved and restored.

Four of "the most beautiful villages in France" are located in the Luberon.