Lavender Provence-Beyond (Beyond the French Riviera) ® Also: [ Lavender Flowers ] The lavender fields of Provence cover several distinct regions (pays): [ Map of lavender regions ] Pays de Sault et du Ventoux Pays d'Apt - Luberon Pays de Forcalquier et Montagne de Lure Pays de Valensole et du Verdon Pays de Digne Pays de Buech - Baronnies Drôme Provençale Vallée de la Drôme - Diois Pays de Sault et du Ventoux This region includes the following towns/villages and sites: Aurel Bédoin Brantes Monieux Saint-Christol d'Albion Sault Gorges de la Nesque Mont Ventoux Vallée du Toulourenc Lavender Festival (Fête de la Lavande) - Sault 14-15 August 84390 Sault Maison du Tourisme; Tel: (33) 490 64 01 21 Corso de la Lavande - Valréas On the first Sat and Mon of August, lavender-covered floats parade through town at sundown, with accompanying festivities and folklorique groups. Valréas Office de Tourisme; Tel: (33) 490 35 04 71 Ferme Saint-Agricol at Savoillans This agronomical experimental site, located in an 17th-century building, specializes in the study of aromatic and medicinal plants and perfumes. Guided visits of the farm and botanical garden. Demonstration of the distillation process. Sales room Open: 15 June - 15 Sept, 10h-13h, 16h-18h30 Open: Sept-June, weekdays 14h-18h; weekends and holidays by rendez-vous. Tel: (33) 475 28 86 578 Jardin des Lavandes at Sault Collection of lavenders. Guided botanical visit of the garden and greenhouses. Sale of plants and products. English, German, Japanese Open: July-Aug, daily 10h-13h, 14h-19h Open: All year by rendez-vous. Location: Hamlet of Verdolier Tel: (33) 490 64 14 97 Maison des Producteurs de Sault This is the cooperative of the lavender producers for the Pays de Sault. Exposition and direct sales. English Spoken. Open: Apr-mid Nov, daily 10h-12h30, 14h30-19h. Location: Rue de la République Tel: (33) 490 64 08 98 Routes de la Lavande en Pays de Sault The Maison du Tourisme offers 7 guided tours to the principal lavender-raising sites (lavandicoles). Tel: (33) 490 64 01 21 Guided Visits of the Towns An official service for guides of Provence offer visits to the towns, in several languages. Comité Départemental du Tourisme de Vaucluse à Avignon. Tel: (33) 490 85 88 20 Pays d'Apt-Luberon This region includes the following towns/villages and sites: Caseneuve Gordes Lagarde d'Apt Rustrel Saignon Saint-Saturnin d'Apt Luberon Distillerie "Lavande 1100" - Lagarde d'Apt This distillery has guided visits by request, an educational welcome and a sales room for its products. Open: 25 July - 25 Aug, 10h-18h. Group visits all year by rendez-vous. English, Italian Tel: (33) 490 75 01 42 Ferme Lavandicole Château du Bois - Lagarde d'Apt This lavender distillery offers through 80 ha (175 acres) of lavender fields. The sales office also handles aoc wines. Open: 7 July - 15 Aug, 9h-19h Tel: (33) 490 76 91 23 Musée de la Lavande - Coustellet Guided Visits of the Luberon La Maison du Parc at Apt offers guided tours for individuals, by rendez-vous. Period: 1 Mar - 30 June Apt, place Jean Jaures Tel: (33) 490 04 42 00 Pays de Forcalquier et Montagne de Lure This region includes the following towns/villages and sites: Forcalquier Lurs Mane Saint-Michel l'Observatoire Simiane-la-Rotonde Montagne de Lure Le Canyon d'Oppedette Le Prieuré de Ganagobie Le Prieuré de Salagon - Mane Coopérative des Producteurs de Plantes à Parfum This is the leading group of producers in the region. They sell the natural aromatic oils. Simiane-la-Rotonde Open: 13h30-17h30 Tel: (33) 492 75 93 12 Tours and Thematic Visits The Office de Tourisme de Forcalquier offers information on several thematic tours of the region. Tel: (33) 492 75 10 02 Route de la Lavande Circuit des Villages de Caractère Tour de la Montagne de Lure Art Roman en Pays d'Albion Gourmands walk for three local products: Lur olive oil, Banon goat cheese (fromage de chèvre) and apéritifs based on the plants of Forcalquier. Route de la Lavande en Pays de Forcalquier Discovery of the distilleries - from 18h until sundown, when the scents are the most intense, then picnic under the stars. Perfume plants and distillery at Salagon - starts with a presentation of the plants, then wild and cultivated lavender and finally a visit to traditional and modern distilleries. Association Alpes de Lumière Tel: (33) 492 75 19 93 Pays de Valensole et du Verdon This region includes the following towns/villages and sites: Allemagne-en-Provence Castellane Moustiers Sainte-Marie Riez Valensole Lac de Sainte-Croix Gorges du Verdon Ferme Angelvin - Valensole Presents the exploitation of lavender, with guided visits to the distillery Cuma le Riou by request. Includes an exposition of ancient tools used in lavender raising and a sales room. Groups of 15-50 welcome. Gîtes ruraux available. English, Italian Open: 1 July - 31 Aug, 9h-19h; Sept-June by rendez-vous. Campagne Neuve; 04210 Valensole Tel: (33) 492 74 80 53; Fax: (33) 492 74 80 53 Association Métiers d'Ici-04" - Valensole Tel: (33) 492 74 82 60 Ferme Cotta - Puimoisson Lavender growing and distillation. Visits and explanations available. Open: 25 july - 15 Aug, 10h-18h. Groups welcome by rendez-vous. Route de Moustiers; Auvestre Tel: (33) 492 74 54 26 Journée Découverte "Les Routes de la Lavande : Saveurs et Senteurs" This "Lavender Route - Flavors and Aromas" is a guided tour that starts at the distillery of the Angelvin farm, a provençal meal at the Grand Hotel de Valensole, visit and tasting at artisanal conserveries of Valensole where you can try the pâté à la lavande. For groups only Verdon Accueil ? Tel: (33) 492 83 67 36 Visite Guidée sur le Thème Lavande Guided tours about lavender July-August Office de Tourisme de Valensole Tel: (33) 492 74 90 02 Pays de Digne This region includes the following towns/villages and sites: Champtercier Digne-les-Bains Mézel Thoard Gorges de Trévans Clue de Barles Corso de la Lavande - Digne-les-Bains This lavender festival has been going on for 50 years. It includes parades with floats, aïoli for everyone, folklorique events and a grand bal on the place De Gaulle. First weekend of August. Comité des fêtes à Digne-les-Bains Centre Desmichels 04000 Digne-les-Bains Tel: (33) 492 31 50 02 Office de Tourisme de Digne (below) Le Jardin Botanique des Cordeliers - Digne-les-Bains The botanical garden is in the interior space of a medieval convent, and includes medicinal, aromatic, ornamental and edible plants. Open: Apr-Oct, 9h-12h, 15h-18h. Guided visits for individuals from 15h. Groups of up to 25 by rendez-vous. English Location: Place des Cordeliers Service Espace et Environment Tel: (33) 492 30 81 50 Office de Tourisme de Digne (below) Parc Rural des Champs de Provence - Champtercier This parc was formed on old agricultural land and presents different aspects of natural and rural Haute Provence. Along with regional plants and farming, it presents rural provençal activities such as bergerie, lavender distillery, volière, pigeonier, etc. Provençal restaurant. Open: July-Aug, 12h-19h; June, Sept, 12h-18h; Oct, weekends 12h-18h; Nov-May by request. Price: 20 F. Tel: (33) 492 31 90 80 Circuit "Plantes et Parfums" sur le Pays de Digne Visit the lavandicoles of the Vallée de l'Asse. Office de Tourisme de Digne-les-Bains Tel: (33) 492 31 42 73 Découverte du Patrimoine de Haute-Provence Association des Guides de Pays; by reservation. Chambre d'Agriculture 66 rue Gasendi 04001 Digne-les-Bains Tel: (33) 492 31 48 60 Pays de Buech - Baronnies This region includes the following towns/villages and sites: Laragne Orpierre Rosans Serres Vallée de l'Oule Gorges de la Méouge Col des Tourettes Distillerie de Lavande Fine - Rosans Coopérative Lavande des Alpes - the lavender cooperative distillery - has guided visits by rendez-vous. Open: July-Aug, 10h-12h, 14h-18h. Tel: (33) 492 66 60 30 Ferme Lavandicole Laborel Production of lavender flowers. Harvesting and distillation in the ancient method. Guided visits by rendez-vous and direct sales. Open: 10 July - 30 Aug, 9h-12h, 14h-20h. La Montagne, Col de Perty Tel: (33) 492 66 29 56 Route de la Lavande en Baronnies du Buech 3-4 hour walk (randonnée) at a lavandicole site and visit the Laborel distillery. Open: July-Aug Visite de la Distillerie La Faurie Harvesting and distillation in the ancient method, lavender for bouquets. By rendez-vous Route de Montbrand Tel: (33) 492 58 14 19 8-Day Tour de Pays Eight days to discover the Baronies du Buech from the mountain ridges (crêtes). Office de Tourisme d'Orpierre (below) Pays Drôme Provençale This region includes the following towns/villages and sites: Buis-les-Baronnies Dieulefit Montbrun-les-Bains Nyons Suze-la-Rousse Maison des Arômes - Buis-les-Baronnies Open: 15 Mar - 31 Apr, Tue-Fri 15h-18h; - June - Sept, Tue-Fri 10h-12h, 15h-18h - July-Aug, Tue-Sun Price: 15 F Tel: (33) 475 28 21 57 Distillerie Bleu Provence - Lyons An artisanal distillery, with lavender and thyme. Includes a boutique. Promenade de la Digue Open: all year 10h-12h, 14h-19h. Individuals: free Groups: with guided tour and video, 10 F/person Tel: (33) 475 26 10 42 Jardin des Arômes - Nyons A collection of aromatic plants and lavender. Promenade de la Digue Tel: (33) 475 26 04 30 or Office de Tourisme de Nyons (below) Jardin des Herves - La Garde Adhémar A garden of medicinal herbs and rare plants. Open: all year Guided visit English Tel: (33) 475 04 41 09 Ferme Blanc - Ferrassières Production of lavender flowers and floral compositions. Open: Apr-Sept, Tue-Sun 10h-20; rest of year by rendez-vous English, Italian Château de la Gabelle Tel: (33) 475 28 80 54 Ferme de la Niègle - Montbrun Producer of medicinal and aromatic plants; sale of plants and essential oils, honey. Open: June-Aug 10h-20h; rest of year by rendez-vous. Route de Montbrun Tel: (33) 475 28 84 16 Pays Vallée de la Drôme - Diois This region includes the following towns/villages and sites: Bourdeaux Chatillon-en-Diois Crest Die Domaine des Arômes - Beaufort-sur-Gervanne Exposition on the theme of "lavender and health", museum of aromas, botanical garden with collection of lavenders and biological cultures. Includes a restaurant and boutique. Quartier les Fonts Open: July-Aug, 10h-19h - Feb-June, Sept-Dec, except Sat, 10h-16h30 English Price: 18 F Ferme de la Louine - Barnave Wild and cultivated plants, distillery and cosmetic workshop. Essential oils and floral waters. La Louine Open: July-Aug, 17h-19h30 - Mar-Sept, Tue-Sat German Tel: (33) 475 21 84 43 For Additional Information Comité Départemental du Tourisme des Alpes de Haute-Provence Maison des Alpes de Haute-Provence 19 rue du Docteur Honnorat 04005 Digne-les-Bains Tel: (33) 492 31 57 29 Office de Tourisme du Pays d'Apt Place Bouquerie; 4 ave Philippe de Girad 84400 Apt Tel: (33) 490 74 03 18 Comité Départemental du Tourisme du Vaucluse La Balance, Place Campana BP 147, 84008 Avignon Cedex 1 Tel: (33) 490 86 43 42 Office Intercommunal du Tourisme du Pays de Forcalquier Place du Bourguet 04300 Forcalquier Tel: (33) 492 75 10 02 Verdon Accueil - Office de Pôles 04210 Castellane Tel: (33) 492 83 67 36, or (33) 494 70 21 64 Office de Tourisme et Thermalisme de Digne-les-Bains 04001 Digne-les-Bains Tel: (33) 492 31 42 73 Office Cantonal de tourisme d'Orpierre Pays du Buech Tel: (33) 492 66 30 45 Office de Tourisme de Nyons Drôme Tel: (33) 475 25 10 35