You’re likely familiar with lavender, the herb, known for its purple-colored flowers and intoxicating fragrance, that’s not only beautiful, but said to reduce stress (lavender sleeping mask, anyone?). In ancient times, lavender was used in bathwater and was often strewn on the floors of homes and castles to keep insects away and mask smells. Today, lavender is used in everything from lotions and perfumes to recipes, and Backroads offers several trips where you’ll not only learn a bit more about this pretty plant, you’ll also see fields and fields of lavender, a sight you’ll never forget.
If you take our France biking tour through Provence in the summer, you’ll be certain to see the flowering herb in bloom. Biking past these fields is like something from a dream, and you’ll get to experience it at least twice on this trip. One day, you’ll explore Ménerbes, where you’ll enjoy a tour and picnic lunch at a lavender distillery! Another day, you’ll bike Provence’s quiet roads through rolling fields of lavender and wheat into the foothills of Mont Ventoux, which will surely be one of the most beautiful places you’ll visit.
Our France walking tour to Provence and Costa Brava lets you meander down the rugged and beautiful Luberon Valley, which is sometimes called the land of honey, lavender and cherries. Lavender is also on display in St-Rémy, a vibrant town that has provided much inspiration for artists from around the world, including van Gogh.
Another Backroads tour where lavender takes the spotlight is our Mallorca biking trip. It’ll be hard to tear your eyes away from the beautiful Mediterranean Sea, but it will be worth it when you ride through seaside Deià with its stone terraces lush with wild lavender and citrus groves.
What’s your favorite use of lavender? Have you ever seen lavender fields in person?