Ah Provence… At the mere mention of this sunny name, the smell of lavender and mimosa comes to us as if by magic. And flowers inspire us! So we wanted to bring together in a single article, all the possible road trips in Provence to fully enjoy each flowering season. A sort of botanical tourist guide on the roads of the South of France. Happy reading 🌻
🌷 A road trip for every season:
- Au spring : the peony of Evenos and the tulips between Lurs and Brillanne.
- En summer : poppies et lavender from Valensole.
- En winter : mimosas on the Var coast.
- All year : le botanical trail from Bandol.
- Bonus : the florists in Bandol.
The peony: the well-kept secret of Evenos
The commune of Évenos, located around thirty minutes from Bandol, in the Var hinterland, is well known to locals for his old village housing the ruins of a castle and for its cliffs which are the favorite playground of local climbers. But that's not all. Less famous than its other assets, the peony is also a typical flower of the village.
You will certainly have difficulty visiting flower fields, but don't panic, because the municipality still organizes every year, in May its great Peony Festival. Thus, every spring, the alleys of Sainte-Anne d’Évenos are adorned with its most beautiful colors and its most beautiful flowers. Craft market, sale of bouquets and entertainment, this event is an enchanted interlude with the theme of one of the region's favorite plants: the delicate peony.
Practical information on the peony
When to enjoy the peony in Évenos? Every year, in May, on the occasion of the Peony Festival.
How long from Bandol? Less than 30 minutes by car.
How to find out more about Evenos? By clicking here.
Useful contact: the Town Hall from Evenos.
The tulip: colors on La Brillanne and Lurs
Let's continue with the one we weren't necessarily expecting here: the tulip. Yes, it is not only in Holland that fields of these pretty flowers bloom. A few kilometers from the Var coast, towards the mythical Luberon, are the villages of Brillanne and Lurs. It is here, in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence region, in the Durance valley, where these bulbs hatch by the thousands in the spring.
The best season to see tulips blooming is in April. That said, this can vary by about 15 days depending on the weather and the current climate. Before you set off for a few kilometers on the roads of our department, remember to check that the buttons are open by contacting the nearest tourist office, namely, that of Forcalquier.
Practical information on tulip fields
When does flowering take place? From April 1st to April 30th (may vary by +/- 15 days depending on the weather).
Where to admire the fields? On the small roads between the villages of La Brillanne and Lurs.
How long from Bandol? Between 1h30 and 1h45 drive.
Useful contact: the tourist office of Forcalquier.
The poppy: the flower of the Provençal fields
Have you ever thought that there are fewer and fewer poppies in our cities? This wild flower that once grew like couch grass is becoming more and more common on our Mediterranean coasts. No doubt because of the rise in temperatures which, over the years, has surely been a little too aggressive for this delicate flower.
Fortunately for us, the north of our region Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur is a botanical paradise for this beautiful plant. So if you hit the road towards Verdon or Luberon, you will have no trouble seeing a large mass of red color appear in the distance. And you want a secret: we almost prefer this flowering to that of lavender…
As for the exact location of the plantations, you will have the choice. For example, you can head for the Bouches-du-Rhône and more particularly for the beautiful village of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence (1h30 drive from Bandol). Not only will you be able to admire the poppy fields, but you can also spend the day in this quintessential Provencal village and sit down at some good local restaurants… Another option is to head to the Valensole plateau (1 hour 40 minutes drive from Bandol) and take the opportunity to kill two birds with one stone, poppies + lavender which can bloom at the same time. Finally, you can also go on the Moustiers-Sainte-Marie side (2 hours drive from Bandol) and spend the day in this picturesque village which, in addition to being surrounded by beautiful flowers, is a pleasure to visit in any season. A word of advice: take the steps up to the chapel, the view is definitely worth it!
Practical information on poppy fields
When does flowering take place? From May to July.
Where to admire the fields? Near Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, on the Valensole plateau, or around Moustiers-Sainte-Marie.
How long from Bandol? Between 1h30 and 2h drive depending on the village chosen.
Useful contacts:
– The tourist office of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.
– The Town Hall of Valensole.
– The tourist office of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie.
Lavender: the treasure of the Valensole plateau
An emblematic flower of Provence, the flowering of lavender brings hundreds, even thousands, of curious people from all over the world every year to enjoy these extraordinary landscapes. Imagine a road in the South of France with purple fields as far as the eye can see on either side... By opening the windows of your car, the mythical scent of this flower reaches you and the buzzing of bees in the middle of the summer rush mixes with the song of cicadas. No doubt, you are in Provence.
It's once again on the Valensole plateau that the main play is performed every summer. Here, no precise address, but a road not to be missed. You can easily park on the side of the road to take a few photos and enjoy the show. Be careful not to walk too much along the paths of the fields at the risk of damaging the plantations. It is also formally forbidden to pick, even if only a few strands. Indeed, if for us, simple visitors, these fields are an attraction, they are above all a profession and the livelihood of many local artisans.
But don't panic, those who want to bring back some fragrant souvenirs will have plenty to do. Several shops, sometimes visible in the form of small huts, offer you bouquets of lavender and even products made with it: cosmetics, essential oils and of course, honey. Treat yourself!
Practical information on lavender fields
When does flowering occur? From June 15 to July 15 (may vary by a few days depending on the weather).
Where to admire the fields? On the Valensole plateau.
How long from Bandol? About 1 hour 30 minutes drive.
Useful contact: the Town Hall of Valensole.
Mimosa: the sun of the Var coast
If lavender is the emblem of Provence, mimosa is the sun of the entire Var coast. Its winter flowering is a poetic way for locals and visitors to come out of hibernation and gradually welcome spring. This tree from the acacia family was long popular with local authorities before finally being discouraged due to the high risk of fire.
So, during your walks in Bandol and the surrounding towns and villages, you will undoubtedly come across a few large shrubs with golden pompoms. Especially if you come to visit us between mid-January and the end of February. But where the show will be the most beautiful is obviously in the eponymous city: Bormes the Mimosas.
Every year, the Borméan municipality organizes MimosaliaMore than just a celebration, this event, which grows bigger every year, is a real festival dedicated to this southern flower. Conferences, craft market, sale of beautiful plants and colorful walks, the event brings together every year experienced nurserymen, amateur arboriculturists and nature lovers around a single flower: the mimosa. To learn more about the latter, read our special article " Mimosa Route ».
Practical information on mimosa
When does flowering occur? From January 15th to approximately the end of February.
Where to admire mimosas? Between Bormes-les-Mimosas and Grasse.
How long from Bandol? Between 1 hour and 1 hour 45 minutes depending on the village chosen.
The event not to be missed: every year, at the end of January, Mimosalia in Bormes les Mimosas.
Useful contact: the tourist office of Bormes the Mimosas.
The Bandol botanical trail
In Bandol too, we have our endemic flowers. Thus, oleanders, almond trees, bougainvillea, “night beauties” and other species wake up in spring to shine sometimes until the end of summer. And to guide you through our streets, we have imagined for you a Botanical TrailThe latter focuses mainly on the Charles de Gaulle quay and allows you to learn more about the trees that you will come across during your sunny walks.
The little extra thing is that this course only asks to get rich. And to do this, we need you! Whether you live in Bandol or are on holiday near us, do not hesitate to send us photos and information about your favorite flowers and other plant species. We will select the most important ones to include in the next editions of our brochures.
To learn more about our botanical trail, click here.
Florists in Bandol
Finally, if you can't be bothered to take your car to visit the wonderful flower fields a few kilometers from us or if you urgently needa pretty bouquet to offer, Bandol florists are here to brighten up your days:
- Nicolas Flowers : 898 Beausset road, 04 94 07 03 04.
- The Florist Workshop : 11 rue des Tonneliers, 04 94 25 16 14.
- The florist : 1103 avenue dei Reganeu (Carrefour), 04 94 32 40 32.
🌸 Want even more flowers in your life? Subscribe to our Instagram account @bandoltourismeofficiel ! And if you take pictures of our landscapes, don't hesitate to tag us with the #bandol ou #bandoltourism. We will share your best photos on our networks!
