Abbaye de Senanque, near Gordes

 

This is a signature image of Provence, so it gets busy here - come early or late to miss the crowds.

GPS location: 43.933147, 5.188588

Lacoste

 

There are a few fields below Lacoste that let you include this photogenic perched village in the background.

GPS location: 43.844829, 5.283633

Saignon

 

Saignon is a very recognisable hill-top village of the Luberon, the one with the highest elevation above the valley below, and topped off by a look-out promontory which used to have a castle on top. The fields to the east of Saignon are planted with lavender, so the best time for a pic is in the morning when the sun is on the village facade.

GPS location: 43.861839, 5.425994

Menerbes

 

The fields to the south of the village of Menerbes have been turned from vineyard to lavender, so this provides a good shot of a lavender field with a hill-top village in the background. Alternatively, a vista from the upper village with lavender below.

GPS location: 43.833376, 5.204666

Bonnieux

 

Looking down from the top of Bonnieux over the Luberon valley you see a patchwork of lavender, this is a nice picture in itself you can take your bearings and head down to get the picture of the field with wither Bonnieux or Lacoste in the background, depending on the time of day.

GPS location: 43.823517, 5.307929

 

If you head off to the northeast of the Luberon you can do a loop that takes in some top lavender destinations.

Sault

 

Sault is the lavender capital of the region, and hosts a lavender festival in August at the time of the lavender harvest. All around Sault the land is a patchwork of lavender fields. The best overall vista of this is on the D943 to the south of Sault, you will find there is a parking spot to pull over and admire the view with Sault to the right and the Mont Ventoux to the left.

GPS location: 44.056954, 5.395166

Aurel

 

Carrying on from Sault to the next village along, Aurel, this is another great picture of lavender plus perched village and mountain behind.

GPS location: 44.123287, 5.422806

 

 

Aurel also has a beautiful lavender field with a little oak tree in the middle, perfect for a more arresting lavender pic.

GPS location: 44.132853, 5.424253

Ferrassieres

 

At Ferrassieres, a tiny village just to the east of Aurel, you get the added extra of two stone bories, or shepherd's huts, surrounded by lavender, which is a win-win for photos.

GPS location: 44.138263, 5.470852

Banon

 

To the southeast of Aurel and Terrassieres is Banon, famed for its goat cheeses, and also a lavender hotspot.

GPS location: 44.032762, 5.635769

Simiane-la-Rotonde

 

Continuing south from Banon you get to Simiane-la-Rotonde, a beautiful perched village with lavender fields in front of it. The lavender is east of the village so you should come in the morning if you want sun on the facade of Simiane-la-Rotonde.

GPS location: 43.983328, 5.572141

Valensole

 

If you want never-ending fields of lavender on a much bigger scale than you will find in the Luberon, you need to head east an hour or so to the Valensole plateau. This is lavender nirvana. Here you get the thicker, rounder lavender profile, with rows disappearing off to the horizon.

 

 

Where to stay amid the lavender in the Luberon

 

If you want to see lavender from your Luberon rental accommodation, here are some properties that either have their own lavender field or a view over one:

1-bedroom:
Menerbes One
Suite Lacoste
Suite Bonnieux

2-bedroom:
Apartment Lacoste

3-bedroom:
Lavender House
La Source

4-bedroom:
Mas du Luberon
Villa Goult

5-bedroom:
Maison Luberon

10-bedroom:
The Fountainhead