Till today, I still remember that the first travel book I ever read in my life was about Provence, France. The beauty of the Provence landscape and lavender fields were deeply inked in my head and it had been on the very top of my bucket list since then. It’s also one of the biggest reasons made me choose France over Germany to study exchange programs.
Which city in Provence to visit?
After a long winter semester, my best friend and I wanted to have a summer trip in France, and Provence immediately popped up in my head. Provence is a wide region in southeastern France, with Marseille as its capital and includes many other popular tourist destinations such as Nice, Cannes, and Avignon. We planned the whole trip from Troyes – Lyon – Avignon & Gordes – Nice – Cannes – Monaco. However, in this article, I’d more focus on Avignon and Gordes, the two popular destinations to see heaven like lavender fields.
When to visit?
The best time to visit is from mid-June to early August because it’s the bloom season of lavender, however, it could also depend on the rainfall of the year. The time we visited was in late June, so we got to see the lavender in its beautiful blooming state. But if you want to catch the scenery of sunflower fields, July will be a safer time to see both at once.
My Travel Log
My friend and I arrived in Avignon around noon (with BlaBlaCar), and as we arrived, we immediately headed toward Office de Tourisme d’Avignon, where we had a local tour reservation online. Why did we book a tour but not rent a car and drive around by ourselves? Well, because it’s easier. Who could know the area better than a local, right? 
The local tour driver first took us to a place to see the town view of Gordes, a hilltop village not far from Avignon. You can find this view on many postcards. The town itself isn’t very big but is a beautiful place to visit. Wandering in winding cobblestone streets and appreciating the stunning view of the Luberon valley. No wonder people say it’s one of the most beautiful villages in France.
After Gordes, we continued our tour to Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque, another picturesque attraction, which has been a symbol of Provence for decades. You can see it on postcards, posters, or paintings at every souvenir shop in the Provence area.
And of course, the lavender fields! The scenery is just addictive for everyone to capture. No matter how many photos you’ve taken, it never feels enough. There’s always a more plentiful patch, a more photogenic field waited to be shot.
Before my memory storage ran out of space, we returned to Avignon. It’s about time to dine so we had dinner at a restaurant close to the tourism office. We both ordered cream risotto and it was pretty good. Unfortunately, I don’t remember the name of the restaurant.
After dinner, we went to take a walk and saw street artists singing. By that time, Avignon Art Festival was only 1-2 weeks away. It was quite a pity that we couldn’t stay until then to join the festival.
But not long after this, the view we saw made us forget everything but can only focus on what’s in front of us. The Pont d’Avignon covered with the rosy light of the setting sun (and encore!) with a patch of lavender. Amazing view, right?
The next day, we woke up early and found a café near Palais des Papes to have breakfast. What makes a perfect French breakfast? A flaky and buttery Croissant with a cup of latte or hot chocolate (since I don’t drink coffee). We enjoyed the sunshine and the food together and chatted with an old gentleman seated next to our table. He said he’s from the US and worked as a businessman traveling around the world when he was young. When he traveled to Provence, he was attracted by its calm and rural lifestyle as Peter Mayle (author of A Year in Provence) did, so he decided to move here to enjoy his retirement life. What a life!
After breakfast, we waved farewell to the gentleman and had our one last ramble in the city before the BlaBlaCar we booked to Nice came to pick us up. Au revoir Avignon! Until next time.
Ohlala!
Do you like lavender? What’s the prettiest flower field you’ve ever seen?