Endless purple lavender rows of Provence
If asked to picture heaven in your mind’s eye, you might just see the softly undulating lavender fields of the Valensole Plateau. Tall stems of pastel lilac waving lazily in some warm summer breeze. A blurred cloud of fragrance hanging in the air, unspooling knots in your muscles.
Unfurling from wherever you’re standing all the way to the horizon, this lavender quilt spreads like an ocean of peace. The village of Valensole has presided over this bounty since the 11th century. Its buildings cluster in stacks, slowly snaking up the gentle rise of its hill.
Wander its little streets and see how the town has turned the lavender flower to its advantage. Soaps. Oils. Unguents. Even cuisine. Lavender-infused honey is the food of the gods. You’ll throw away the souvenirs you’ve already bought, just to make a little more room.
How could the splendour intoxicate you any further? Perhaps when soft lavender’s scent and colour meet bright yellow sun petals. Many farmers alternate fields of lavender with those of sunflowers, making for beautiful visions of colour.
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