My mom was convinced that we would definitely find lavender fields at the Abbey de Senanque, just outside the village of Gordes. And she was right! We wound down a narrow road, hugging the rocky ridge toward the Abbey on Les Routes de Lavande.
Abbey de Senanque was founded in 1148 by Cistercian monks. They remain there even today practicing the medieval cycle of prayer, silence, study, and work. They work cultivating lavender and honey in order to maintain the upkeep on the gray stone buildings of the monastery.
A sea of lavender pops against the heather-gray stone of the monastery, which seems to blend in with the cliffs surrounding the value. I’d not seen lavender ever before, so I did what any dog would do. I stuck my head right into the lavender to get a big sniff! Apparently I startled a bee because it started buzzing around. My mom chuckled and told me no. She didn’t want me to get stung.
I sniffed up and down the rows of lavender, watching bees pollinate the purple flowers and was thankful the light rain was keeping most of them away. I tried to leap over a row of lavender but got yelled at. You have to be respectful of the lavender. No picking or trampling it!
Know Before You Go
The lavender blooms in late June and is mostly cut around mid-July. To see and smell the lavender in full bloom, it is best to visit in early July.
The Abbey is open for visits by guided tour only and reservations are required ahead of time. €7 per person. Silence is required in respect for the Cistercian order.
We’re Jennifer and Tim and We love adventure and we love wine, so we often try to combine the two! By day, you’ll find us out on some crazy adventure like snorkeling in Iceland in winter, but by night, we’re creatures of comfort. We both work full time, so we bring you practical tips for how anyone can fit travel into their busy lives – just like us! So far, we've visited 43 countries, lived in the United States and Italy, and Tim has lived in Korea. And we do it all while both holding down full time jobs. 
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Lesley Peterson
July 10, 2012 at 6:57 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
Lovely post and pics! Can almost smell the lavender.
Lesley Peterson recently posted..Taking the 506 streetcar to little India
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Jennifer Dombrowski Reply:
July 10th, 2012 at 8:51 pm
Hi Lesley! Thanks so much! It was very fragrant.
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Jeff Titelius
July 10, 2012 at 8:09 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
Stunning photos my friend. I bet you are all having such a wonderful time touring Provence at this most perfect time of the year!
Jeff Titelius recently posted..EuroTravelogue To Embark With Viking River Cruises in Amsterdam
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Jennifer Dombrowski Reply:
July 10th, 2012 at 8:41 pm
Hi Jeff! It was beautiful…and this was all in pouring down rain. Imagine if the sun had come out to shine!
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Natasha von Geldern
July 11, 2012 at 9:03 am (UTC 2) Link to this comment
How absolutely stunning, I’ve always wanted to see the lavender fields in Provence!
Natasha von Geldern recently posted..All the colour of London’s Notting Hill Carnival
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Laurel
July 11, 2012 at 2:18 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
I agree, the smell of lavender almost jumps off the page. Beautiful photos!
Laurel recently posted..South African Wildlife: Beyond the Big 5
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Jennifer Dombrowski Reply:
July 11th, 2012 at 4:18 pm
Thanks, Laurel! It is easy to take beautiful photos in such a beautiful location!
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Chula Wula D'Augue
July 11, 2012 at 5:23 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
Hi, Emma. Your big smile tells me you're enjoying Provence as much as I did. I love your family portraits amidst the lavender. In fact, you look like such a natural there that I'm wondering if you're dreaming yet in French.
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Mary Herman
July 12, 2012 at 2:50 am (UTC 2) Link to this comment
I was there when the lavender was just brown twigs. Pooh.
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Jennifer Dombrowski Reply:
July 12th, 2012 at 9:24 am
Hi Mary,
It’s a very short period from the beginning to mid July when you can see the lavender in bloom. But definitely worth the trip to see such vibrant, beautiful colors!
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Betty Davis
July 12, 2012 at 10:59 am (UTC 2) Link to this comment
The pictures are superb and your blog is very interesting? Do you have any info on spain?
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Jennifer Dombrowski Reply:
July 12th, 2012 at 10:47 pm
Hi Betty! We have not spent time in mainland Spain. But we do have information about the Spanish Canary Islands. You can use our country menu to select Spain.
Also check our blogs we love page. We recommend several other blogs with a lot of information on Spain.
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Ali
July 12, 2012 at 2:38 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
The lavender looks gorgeous! Sounds like a great trip!
Ali recently posted..The Time I Thought Our Plane Might Crash
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Lola
April 12, 2013 at 8:52 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
Just gorgeous!!
Lola recently posted..Postcard: Purple skies and Northern lights #FriFotos
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Jennifer Dombrowski Reply:
April 12th, 2013 at 11:18 pm
The lavender is beautiful, especially set against the abbey in a valley surrounded by jagged mountains.
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Debbra
June 9, 2013 at 11:41 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
I hope to be able to visit at the right time of year to see and photograph the lavender….one of these years! Thanks for sharing…
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Jennifer Dombrowski Reply:
June 10th, 2013 at 8:53 pm
It’s such a beautiful sight to see. Hope you make it to Provence at the right time of year one day soon, Debbra!
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Checking Off My Bucket List: 21 Countries in 2012 - Jdomb's Travels
September 29, 2012 at 6:34 pm (UTC 2) Link to this comment
[...] to see the famous lavender of Provence, France in full bloom we spent several days hunting down lavender fields and exploring the medieval towns that inspired Van Gogh. Emma was so well behaved, she was rewarded [...]