The LAVENDER in PROVENCE

In July, in Provence, lavender fields spread everywhere, on the Plateau de Sault, in the Luberon or the plateau de Valensole. Nothing evokes more the Provence than the blue lavender fields which scent the air on summer evenings.

Lavender grows under the sun on dry calcareous soils. Honey is very popular with bees and lavender honey has many virtues.

Coming from the western Mediterranean, lavender has been used since Roman times to keep clothes and perfume.
In Provence , it is from the Middle Ages that lavender is used to compose perfumes and medicines.
From the XIXth century the culture develops.
 
The manufacture of perfumes in Grasse caused development of French production of essential oil of lavender.
In the 50s, the culture of lavender grows.

If you are in the area on August 15 , do not miss the feast of Lavender in Sault. In the wood the Deffends, bordering the village, you will attend parades and folk groups hitches, horse show, exhibitions, local products on sale, the painting exhibition, the book fair and the village of Artcrafts. A lunch is organised on large tables under the trees.
Access is by free shuttle from free parking in the village .

The four main species of lavender are:

The Lavandula angustifolia , or fine lavender. This fine lavender is the most sought after for the quality of its essential oil.
Thanks to its robustness, it grows naturally in Haute Provence above 700-800 meters. The lavender essential oil from Haute- Provence enjoys the designation of AOC.

Lavandula latifolia or spike lavender. Former name : L. spica. This flower has a very camphor smell. It is much less appreciated in perfumery.

Lavandula intermedia, the lavandin is a natural hybrid between L. angustifolia and L. latifolia . This is the third kind of lavender found in Provence. Grown since the 1930s, the lavendin flower is now the most cultivated for its essential oil productivity.
Its smell is more camphor than fine lavender, industrial perfumery uses it a lot.
 
Lavandula stoechas , or stéchas lavender , lavender butterfly, the most widespread in the wild throughout the Mediterranean basin.
It is not used in perfumery, it essentially smells camphor.

In July, if you walk in the Luberon countryside, you will discover these beautiful blue fields on the hills and plains,
long lines of lavander planted in straight and carefully maintained.