About thirty minutes from Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, at the gateway to the Gorges du Verdon, the
Valensole plateau is covered in lavender and lavandin
every summer. Here is when to see them, exactly where, and how to visit without damaging the
producers’ work.
15 June–15 Julyusual floweringdepending on the weather, according to Alpes de Haute-Provence Tourisme
Early Julyusual peakof the flowers on the plateau, according to the same source
10 June 2026flowering already under wayharvest open from 29 June, over 15 days (2026 sheet)
~30 minfrom Moustiers to Valensole35 min from the Pont du Galetas, 45 from Aiguines
A short window, not to be missed
Flowering generally falls between mid-June and mid-July, with a peak in early July,
according to Alpes de Haute-Provence Tourisme; its exact date depends on the weather. In
2026, the same tourist office recorded flowering already under way on 10 June and harvesting
open from 29 June, gradually over fifteen days. Its more general pages place the harvest rather
around mid-July, or even in the second half of the month: these sources do not agree, so we cite
them all. These markers change from one year to the next: it is best to
reconfirm them just before you set off.
Where to see lavender
The Valensole plateau
Valensole · Riez
Between the Gorges du Verdon to the south and the Durance valley to the north, the plateau stretches around the village of Valensole: 800 km² at 590 m altitude, according to Alpes de Haute-Provence Tourisme. The village is about 30 minutes from Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, 35 from the Pont du Galetas and 45 from Aiguines; Riez, which the same tourist office places at the heart of the plateau, is about twenty minutes from the Pont du Galetas. The tourist office presents the plateau as one of the most important places for growing lavender and lavandin, and also mentions the Entrevennes plateau, Puimichel, Le Castellet, Oraison and Manosque.
The routes to follow
D952 then D56
From Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, the OpenStreetMap route calculation goes via the D952 then the D56 to reach the village of Valensole; from the Pont du Galetas, via the D957, the D952 and then the D56. Alpes de Haute-Provence Tourisme mentions “Lavender Routes” on the plateau and a themed route, the Route Saveurs & Senteurs (workshops and know-how of the département, since 2011). Driving slowly early in the morning and stopping at the edges of the fields, without going into them, leaves plenty of time to admire and photograph.
Fine lavender or lavandin?
Two plants, one violet vision
The plateau grows both, according to Alpes de Haute-Provence Tourisme. True or fine lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), “the noblest of lavenders” for the quality of its essential oil, bears a single spike of flowers at the end of a long stem. Lavandin, a hybrid of true lavender and spike lavender that appeared in the 1920s, has a branched stem with three spikes, is bulkier, and has a higher essential-oil yield — four to ten times that of true lavender according to the tourist office’s pages, which do not give the same figure.
Visiting without damaging
Lavender fields are living farms, not a postcard backdrop maintained for visitors. A few simple
rules let you enjoy the spectacle without harming the producers’ work.
Best light
Photo
At sunrise, the plots show themselves at their best, according to the departmental tourist office, which links this to hot-air balloon flights. The low morning or end-of-day light also brings out the rows in relief for photography.
Staying on the edges
Rule no. 1
Lavender fields often belong to local producers, the departmental tourist office reminds visitors, asking them not to enter them or pick any sprigs. You admire and photograph from the paths and borders: it is a producer’s livelihood, not a public backdrop.
Parking without causing trouble
Safety
Park only in the areas intended for the purpose: according to the departmental tourist office, wild parking can damage the fields and obstruct traffic. Never on the roadway or across a farm access.
Distilleries
Extending the visit
Lavandes Angelvin, a family farm at Campagne Neuve (3970 route de Manosque, Valensole), has free admission and its shop opens all year round, at hours that change with the season; it sells essential oils of lavender and lavandin, honey and soaps on site. The distillery can be visited freely when it is operating, except on Sundays: a period that varies from year to year, roughly 6 to 25 July for individuals according to the tourist office. In 2026, the farm indicates that the harvest and distillation are over. Groups of at least 15 people can visit by appointment all year round.
Extending the visit
The Valensole market is held on Saturday, from 8:00 to
13:00, on avenue Segond; the one in Riez, on Wednesday and
Saturday, from 8:00 to 13:30 all year round (information from the two town halls). The Valensole
Lavender Festival takes place on the 3rd Sunday of July, 19 July in 2026: Provençal market,
distillation demonstrations, visits to fields and distilleries — the 2026 programme is
published by the AVEC VOUS association. The 2027 date is not announced at this time; applying the
3rd-Sunday rule, it would be 18 July, to be confirmed with the Valensole tourist information
office (8 boulevard Frédéric Mistral; open from April to September, telephone helpline on
weekdays the rest of the year). Combine it with a stop at
Moustiers-Sainte-Marie or a
discovery of the terroir of the Verdon.
Frequently asked questions
When can you see lavender in bloom near the Gorges du Verdon?
On the Valensole plateau, Alpes de Haute-Provence Tourisme places flowering between mid-June and mid-July, depending on the weather, with a peak generally in early July. In 2026, the tourist office recorded flowering already under way on 10 June and harvesting open from 29 June, gradually over fifteen days; its more general pages place the harvest rather around mid-July, or even in the second half of the month. These markers change from one year to the next: reconfirm with the Valensole tourist information office before you set off.
Can you still see lavender in August?
On the Valensole plateau, the sources consulted place flowering between mid-June and mid-July, then the harvest, “generally from the second half of July” according to the departmental tourist office. This office also mentions, at the scale of the département, flowering that extends until “the end of August depending on the location”, without saying where: for a visit in August, it is best to check with the tourist office before you set off.
Is the Valensole plateau far from the Verdon, and is access free?
According to a driving route calculation, the village of Valensole is about 30 minutes from Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, 35 minutes from the Pont du Galetas and 45 minutes from Aiguines, traffic jams aside. The departmental tourist office indicates free and open access, with the instruction not to enter the fields: these are often the farms of local producers. Stay on the paths and borders.
What is the difference between fine lavender and lavandin?
True or fine lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is, according to Alpes de Haute-Provence Tourisme, “the noblest of lavenders for the quality of its essential oil”: a long stem bearing a single spike of flowers, in bushes up to one metre tall, found between 500 and 1,500 m altitude on sunny slopes. Lavandin is a hybrid of true lavender and spike lavender, which appeared in the 1920s: its branched stem bears three spikes, it is bulkier and its essential-oil yield is higher — four to ten times that of true lavender according to the tourist office’s pages, which do not give the same figure. It is found mainly in cultivation.
Is there a lavender event in Valensole?
Yes: the Valensole Lavender Festival is held on the 3rd Sunday of July, in the village (19 July in 2026). A Provençal market, distillation demonstrations, traditional music and walks among the fields are on the programme, according to Alpes de Haute-Provence Tourisme; the AVEC VOUS association publishes the detailed programme of the 2026 edition (shuttles from La Poste to the distilleries, visit of the lavender museum). The 2027 date is not announced at this time: applying the 3rd-Sunday rule, it would be 18 July, to be confirmed with the Valensole tourist information office.
Check for yourself
The external sources this page relies on, one click away.We would rather you be able to contradict us than ask you to take our word for it.
Departmental tourist office (04): flowering and harvest dates, the communes concerned, the distinction between true lavender and lavandin, visiting rules on the Valensole plateau.
Departmental tourist office (04): flowering and harvest period, rules for visiting the fields, location, area and altitude of the plateau, Riez market.
Departmental tourist office (04): lavender flowering “from mid-June to the end of August depending on the location”, harvest generally from the second half of July on the Valensole plateau, the distinction between true lavender and lavandin.
Departmental tourist office (04): the Lavender Festival takes place every third Sunday of July in Valensole, with a Provençal market, distillation demonstrations and walks among the fields.
The association of Valensole’s economic players publishes the programme of the 2026 edition: date, times, shuttles from the post office, visits to distilleries and fields, the lavender museum.
Address (8 boulevard Frédéric Mistral) and opening periods of the Valensole tourist information office: open from April to September, telephone helpline on weekdays the rest of the year.
The Valensole market is held on Saturdays, on Avenue Segond; the page also lists the markets of neighbouring communes, including Riez (Wednesday and Saturday).
Listing from the Pays de Manosque tourist office: address, free admission, opening hours, period of free visits to the distillery, group visits by appointment.
The farm itself: the distillery can be visited freely when it is running (period varies from year to year, closed on Sundays), group visits from 15 people by appointment, shop opening hours month by month.
Quotations from French-language sources are translated by us; the original wording is on the page behind each link.
10 of these 10 links responded during our last automated check, on 2026-10-02. A broken link is removed, never left in place.