Lavender Time in Provence - Lively Vacations to Romantic Vacation Locations

By Sylvia Arad | Submitted On Could 07, 2010


To venture to Provence in July is usually to be missing in a very purple coloured sea. Oceans of lavender all over the place - in patches, in waves, in ideal rows, area soon after discipline - the hillsides in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence are daubed in blue, mauve, grey and violet by excellent swathes of lavender in bloom. That is harvest time in Provence's lavender locations - the tractors are rolling, the distilleries steaming and lavender festivals are in whole swing.

Lavender, the emblem of Provence, has been expanding right here eternally. Its formal cultivation even so is quite new, and it has presented increase to lavandin; a hybrid Model applied additional for industrial applications.

"Great" or true lavender is developed for its essential oils. To qualify for your very coveted AOC (Appellation of Controlled Origin) - France's greatest stamp of approval - the lavender must fulfill incredibly rigorous requirements, its manufacturing limited to 284 villages and cultivated in locations higher than 800 m during the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, the Drome and Vaucluse. Useful for perfumes, in aromatherapy and medicinally, it have to also satisfy olfactory exams, and special harvesting and distillation procedures.

Beneath the blazing Sunlight, this fragile plant is harvested by hand by family members steeped in its traditions, that have cultivated it for generations. It is then dried for times in advance of currently being distilled. The distillation method consists of passing steam in the dried flowers, which are collected in bunches in a very even now to extract their vital oils. Several tactics are utilized depending on the lavender's use. To create 1 Liter of necessary oil, 287 lb. of fantastic lavender is used; for perfumes, the procedure is a lot more intricate taking on 2200 lbs. of lavender to generate three gallons of complete pure oil.

Provence Lavender Country Offers Terrific Climbing Vacations and Biking Routes

Lavender conjures up spectacular vistas of blue fields, punctuated by red Prestige Lavender Fields poppies, a patchwork of gold grain and occasional strands of oak and pine which extend into the hallucinatory blue horizon. This area is actually a cycling and mountaineering paradise - biking routes abound for readers who desire to enterprise off- the-crushed-path around the "Route de Lavande" and climbing vacations to the "Grande Randonne" trails are an adventurer's aspiration. The imposing Luberon Mountains and Vaucluse plain serve as the backdrop to your magnificent panoramas of ancient villages perched on hillsides; Along with the scents of rosemary, thyme, savory and not minimum, lavender.

The "Route de Lavande" leads website visitors through swathes of fragrant fields, gardens, distilleries, museums and villages. The numerous festivals, the largest hosted by Sault, show lavender floats and shows and offer you not just bouquets and sachets, but all types of lavender-associated solution - creamy honey, scented candles and perhaps aprons. Eating places present lavender influenced menus and spas supply thermal baths and massages with lavender oil.

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