Provence for those who do not want to go too far into distant areas, but who still want to have an authentic taste of the Provencal atmosphere, its aromas and flavors!
If you want to admire the stupendous purple expanses of lavender without going too far from Italy, here is the ideal destination:Valensole plateau, not even three hours from Ventimiglia!
The perfect time to visit this particular area goes from mid-June to mid-July, when they then do the harvest party.
Where to start the itinerary
The basis for your tour could be Manosque: L 'Ibis Budget Manosque Cardarache hotel it is very convenient because it is very close to the highway, clean although minimal, and one of the cheapest in the area. They also allow both small and large pets, paying a small supplement of about 5 Euros per dog, per night.
If you want to visit the center of Manosque, just behind the hotel there is a free bus to the city.
Tips for photographing lavender fields
Valensole can be one super destination also suitable for children for the presence of immense expanses of lavender everywhere: one would stop for hours to photograph the thousand shades of color that come out based on where the sun is, from the lightest purple to the darkest purple, sometimes interspersed with the very marked yellow of the fields of sunflower, which in some cases are really huge!
The only advice I can give you is to be in the fields in the morning as soon as possible, otherwise then the crowd arrives and it is really hard to get decent photos, without people snacking left and right!
Valensole: the town
Valensole, however, is not only fields of lavender and sunflower, but also has a very small town with a pretty fountain in the center of the square, shops and restaurants with unfortunately not exactly cheap figures.
The time spent at the camps is very subjective, but be aware that from the hotel I have indicated it will not take you long to reach them, and once you have stayed a couple of hours (time I think more than enough) you might think about doing a beautiful round trip about 45 km in all, therefore very feasible in a single day.
Riez: the oldest city
The first city you will encounter is Riez, dating back to Roman period: it is the oldest of this route, but also the most lively with restaurants and people everywhere in the streets. If you want a little more relaxation you could go up to the area of the walls.
Allemagne en Provence
Continuing on the road you will find Allemagne en Provence, a very small town, with three houses, a street and a bar, but with a fabulous castle Out in the open. Find out first if you want to access it because visits are only allowed at certain times.
Esparron de Verdon
Leaving Allemagne you could reach Esparron de Verdon, whose flagship is nature: a green-water pond set as in a basin, where you can stop to relax on the small beach, which unfortunately is not accessible for animals, or even rent a pedal boat to explore the area. In addition to the wonders of nature, Esparron also has a Ecomuseum, where you will find a collection of objects and costumes from Provence.
Greoux les Bains
The last town is also the most touristic of the previous ones and is called Greoux les Bains, built around the Templar Castle and famous for its thermal baths. What is striking about this place is the continuous coming and going of people, the intensity and liveliness of the colors and the narrow streets that characterize it. The small church entirely made of stone is also very nice.
The advice for all these places is in general to get lost in the streets without paying too much attention to what to see exactly: you will enjoy them much more!
I think I have given you a couple of useful ideas in this way according to your needs and tastes: you can stay all day to admire the fields and simply take a ride in Manosque, or venture into this circular route with truly unique landscapes and details. This is the Provence for those who do not want to go too far into more distant areas, but who still want to have a little taste of the Provençal atmosphere, its scents and colors.
