{"id":11757,"date":"2025-01-02T09:43:56","date_gmt":"2025-01-02T14:43:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/finduslost.com\/?p=11757"},"modified":"2025-01-24T15:40:28","modified_gmt":"2025-01-24T20:40:28","slug":"south-of-france-provence-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/finduslost.com\/south-of-france-provence-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"South of France: Provence Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Lavender<\/p>\n

After spending time on the French Riviera<\/a>, we made our way north to the Provence region of France to experience the lavender fields in full bloom. Typically, the perfect time to visit and see lavender is mid-July. Our days were long, with the sun rising early in the morning and setting around 10pm each night. It’s hot this time of year (around 95 F, 35 C), and we often slept in late throughout this part of the trip, spending the middle of the day lounging at the pool before heading out in the late afternoon. For this trip we opted for taking day trips to smaller, less crowded villages in Provence and I’m so glad we did!<\/p>\n

PRESET COLLECTIONS USED IN THIS BLOG POST: INDIA COLLECTION<\/a>, EUROPE COLLECTION<\/a><\/h5>\n
\"Sunflower\"Lavender\"Lourmarin\"Fontaine\"Le<\/h5>\n

Photos:<\/em> Lavender in Opp\u00e8de; sunflower fields en route to Saint-Remy-de-Provence; more lavender in Opp\u00e8de; the villa at Chateau Constantin; La Pointe Noire restaurant in Fontaine-de-Vaucluse; wine and cheese at our hotel Le Galinier de Lourmarin (photos edited with our India Collection<\/a> and Europe Collection<\/a> presets. View all presets here<\/a>).<\/span><\/p>\n

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14 DESTINATIONS<\/h3>\n

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1-2 WEEKS<\/h3>\n

Best time to visit <\/strong>\u2013 June through August, early to mid-July if you also want to see lavender fields<\/p>\n

Getting around<\/strong> \u2013 rental car<\/p>\n

Currency<\/strong> \u2013 euros<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Where We Stayed:<\/h6>\n

The first half of our stay in Provence was in Opp\u00e8de, and it turned out to be a great home base to explore the places below. Funny enough, I chose Opp\u00e8de because it was close by a famous lavender field at Senanque Abbey<\/a>, but we ended up skipping it after hearing it was filled with tour buses! Instead we opted to visit all the nearby hilltop towns and local lavender fields, which were relatively quiet. I loved staying here since the houses and hotels tend to be more affordable, and many have pools. I have my eye on this property<\/a> for my next visit, but I’m also tempted to splurge so I can sleep on the grounds of this 18th century farmhouse<\/a>! More of my favorites below:<\/p>\n

Houses in Provence<\/h5>\n

La Bastide de Songes<\/a> – $$ – a quaint French guesthouse perfect for 2, run by a husband-and-wife duo.
\nLe Clos de Gordes<\/a> – $$ – a sunny and bright Proven\u00e7al home featuring suites and a pool, located nearby the famous hilltop town of Gordes.
\nLes Cabanes de la Fontaine<\/a> – $$$ – unique, contemporary 2 to 4 person cabins which boast incredible views over Provence. Located in one of my favorite towns of Lacoste.
\nDomaine Les Roulets<\/a> – $$$ – a picture-perfect romantic b&b set in lush gardens, complete with a heated pool, electric bikes for exploring Opp\u00e8de, and homemade ros\u00e9.
\nMas des C\u00e8dres<\/a> – $$$ – a gorgeous stone house surrounded by olive trees that sleeps up to 6.
\nMas en Luberon<\/a> – $$$$ – a 3-bedroom stone farmhouse perfect for groups, set amidst greenery in Gordes.
\nLe Galinier de Lourmarin<\/a> – \u00a0$$$$ – a beautiful Proven\u00e7al country house with a pool, within walking distance of Lourmarin’s downtown. We loved our stay here.
\nLa Bastide de Marie<\/a> – $$$$ – an immaculate 18th-century hotel set amongst the vineyards, with 2 pools and a spa.<\/p>\n

At the end of the trip we stayed in Lourmarin at Le Galinier de Lourmarin<\/a> (pictured below), which I\u2019d highly recommend if you\u2019re traveling as a couple or with friends. Many of the properties in this area are on the expensive side, but we booked early for more affordable rates. This top-rated hotel was the best of both worlds: only a two minute walk from the town center and local market, and set in French gardens that felt like a fairytale. Lourmarin was my favorite town of the entire trip, a must-visit!<\/p>\n

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More from this trip in our South of France: French Riviera Guide<\/a><\/h4>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Lavender Fields<\/h4>\n

You can’t visit this French region without seeing (and smelling!) the lavender fields. There were local fields nearby Opp\u00e8de where we stayed, and plenty along different routes to nearby towns. The lavender is known for blooming from the end of June through the beginning of August, and we visited in peak bloom the first two weeks of July.<\/p>\n

Lavender Field Highlights (all spots labeled on the map below):<\/strong><\/p>\n