Summer in Provence: Part 3

As I’m sitting here writing this, it’s officially winter in California. The cooler weather is making me miss my summer in Provence more than ever. I miss the warm July sun, the song of the cicadas, and most of all, the lavender fields and turquoise lakes…

Valensole
One morning, we woke up early for a little road trip to Valensole to see the famous lavender fields. Seeing these fields in person had been on my bucket list for as long as I could remember and was the main reason why I picked Provence for a leg of my birthday trip. It was meant to be as peak blooming season is mid-June to mid-July. We picked up the essential car snacks (pain au chocolat and an iced coffee, obviously) and started out on our two hour long journey.

I wish I could put into words how beautiful the scenery is driving through Provence. There is such a diverse landscape with all the hills and mountain ranges, surrounded by an abundance of olive, oak, and pine trees. In far off distances, you can make out small towns on hillsides, with its ancient buildings, as if another kingdom. It’s so beautiful, and the pictures don’t do it justice.

As we were driving through Le Puy-Sainte-Réparade, about forty-five minutes from Valensole, we passed a gorgeous field of sunflowers. We drove on, and before we could get very far, I asked if we could circle back; I would’ve regretted not stopping. David graciously pulled over on the side of the road, and let me have a moment with the sunflowers. Even if it was only a few minutes on the side of the road, I loved every second of it.

The sights our whole drive were unbelievable, but nothing would compare to the lavender fields we had sought out to see. Nothing takes your breath away like seeing those purple hills for the first time. And the scent on the air, which I remember very fondly, just whisked me away to a peaceful place. My heart felt so full.

Valensole is the biggest area in France devoted to growing lavender.

We quickly learned that these fields were swarming with bees and grasshoppers; There were so many of them! With each step we took, you could watch the grasshoppers scatter and the bees disperse. I didn’t mind them or let the fact that they were all round bother me. I wanted to be fully in the moment and take everything in. This was the moment I had waited for after all. You can read more about this memory in my previous blog post, Memories Woven in Time.

After taking in the beauty of the lavender, we made our way to the city center of Valensole. It’s quite the quaint little town, with a cute main street lined with shops and restaurants. We enjoyed some drinks and lunch. We took advantage of any chance we got to sit and enjoy ourselves on a patio; It just seemed the perfect French thing to do.

Afterwards, we perused some shops, and I made sure to buy some lavender pillow spray. I wanted something that could easily take me back to those fields, so this was perfect souvenir. And a summer day in Provence is not complete without some lavender ice cream, right? Of course, I had to try the flavor, and it was actually really tasty! After spending some time here, I decided Valensole is the perfect provincial town with the most picturesque fountains and buildings. It’s definitely one of my favorite cities we’ve visited in Southern France.

Esparron de Verdon

It was quite a hot day, so after exploring Valensole, we made our way to the Lac d’Esparron to cool off. Located at the base of the small hilltop village, Esparron de Verdon, this lake may have the most beautiful turquoise water I’ve ever seen. It really rivals the clear waters of the Aeagen Sea in Greece. Pictures truly do not do it justice.

Lac d’Esparron spans about 810 acres and is made up of inlets and cliffs.

It was just a quick climb down a little cliff to reach the water’s edge, and we found a little area to ourselves on this busy summer day. I made a rookie mistake of forgetting my bathing suit, but was able to pull up my dress to dip my legs in the water. David remembered his suit, so he took full advantage and swam to his heart’s content. I sat there on a rock ridge that lead into the water and watched him in the clear water, soaking in the sun with a grateful heart.

This was my favorite day in Provence. Driving through the countryside will be something I will never forget. When I close my eyes, I can still smell the lavender in Valensole and feel the cool crystal clear water of Lac d’Esparron.

Now onto the finale of the Summer in Provence series covering Menerbes, Gordes, Lacoste, and Châteauneuf-du-Pape…

xo,
Ashley