The Plateau de Valensole is a high plateau in French Department Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and center of lavender cultivation.
region
The Plateau de Valensole is lying in French Department Alpes-de-Haute-Provence between the river valley of the Durance, Digne-les-Bains in the north, the Lac de Sainte-Croix and the lower Gorges du Verdon.
places
- Allemagne-en-Provence
- Gréoux-les-Bains
- Riez
- Valensole
background
The high plateau between the Durance valley and the Lac de Sainte-Croix is a strongly agricultural area, the cultivation of lavender in extensive fields, of almond trees and truffles gives it a special character.
Apart from the former bishopric, the medieval town Riez, the villages are mostly small and have retained their typical Provencal charm.
Historically, the plateau was once largely cultivated with almond trees, viticulture was given up in the middle of the last century, and lavender is grown on large areas.
A distinction is made between the types of lavender Lavande vraie (Lavandula angustifolia or real lavender) and Lavandin (Lavandula × intermedia, cross between Lavendula a. And Lavendula latifolia, which is considered less noble), the latter is more productive and is grown on larger areas. Flowering time is June / July, the main harvest time July / August. On the one hand, the distilled lavender essence is used in perfumery, on the other hand, the whole flowers are used as lavender bags for wardrobes. Since bees greatly appreciate the blooming lavender, the local one is prized Lavender honey / Miel de Lavande obtained when the bees feed on lavender flowers, they produce a milky, mild honey with a subtle lavender aroma.
The best time to travel is mid-June to July, when the lavender is in bloom.
language
French, Provencal dialect of Occitan.
getting there
By plane
The closest airports are those of 1 Marseille-Provence and 2 Nice-Cote d'Azur
By train
The closest train stations are those of Manosque the SNCF respectively Digne-les-Bains the Chemin de Fer de Provence.
By bus
Bus connections of the LER consist of Aix-en-Provence above Riez - Moustiers until after Castellane, further bus connections from Manosque above Riez until after Digne-les-Bains and from Riez in the localities in the area, so after Quinson and Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon.
In the street
The fastest road connection is the one via Lyon - Valence on the A7 - Autoroute du Soleil, continue a short section on the A8 and then from the south on the A51 to 
Vinon / Cadarache and beyond Gréoux-les-Bains to Riez or over Manosque and from there over Manosque, Valensole to Riez. The D952 continues after Moustiers-Sainte-Marie and to the Lac de Sainte-Croix, the D11 leads directly to Sainte-Croix-du-Verdon.
mobility
In Haute-Provence, the best way to get around is with your own motor vehicle, and getting around by bike is usually quite comfortable. Public transport bus connections often rarely run in the very rural region.
The D6 and the D8 lead around Valensole through the lavender fields. In view of the scenic beauty, it is recommended to park on the roadside for photo stops, otherwise there is a risk of collision with the next vehicle, whose occupants can only marvel at the lavender fields.
Tourist Attractions
Valensole
The place Valensole with its 3,200 inhabitants was already settled at the time of the Romans, the Via Domitia from Moustiers via Riez to Saint-Tulle led through the village, as evidenced by Roman milestones on the provincial roads. The place had market rights in the Middle Ages, it made a name for itself again in 1965 when a UFO apparently landed on a lavender field and two extraterrestrials visited the Plateau de Valensole as a worthwhile travel destination.
The typical Provencal center of the village, which is situated on a hilltop, is worth seeing, several buildings with cantilever arches from the 18th century, the large local well and the wash house with its well from 1681. The parish church 1 Eglise Saint-Denis partly dates from the 11th - 14th century. and has Romanesque and Gothic elements, the main nave was renewed in 1789/90, several chapels still exist in the village, some from the 18th century.
The weekly market is held every Saturday (a small market also on Wednesday), on the third Sunday in July the Fete de Lavande held where everything revolves around the lavender. A 2 Vivant de l'Abeille museum, Bee Museum is located at the Route de Manosque. The one in the 18th century is well worth seeing. landscaped garden 3 Le Clos de Villeneuve at the Château de Villeneuve.
Allemagne-en-Provence
The village 1 Allemagne-en-Provence developed around that 4 Château d'Allemagne as the seat of the "de Castellane" family. The castle keep with the imposing battlements dates from the 13th century, the other defensive towers were demolished when the castle was rebuilt in the Renaissance style from 1495. It is considered to be one of the best preserved castles in the style of Louis XII.
- Le Château d’Allemagne-en-Provence. Tel.: (0)4.92.77.46.78. the gatehouse can be rented as a holiday home.Open: 16.00-17.00 July - mid-September daily, Pentecost - end of October, Sat, Sun & public holidaysPrice: 7.00 / 3.00 €.
The 5 Local church Saint-Marc probably dates from the 16th century, it was in the 18th century. renewed; to 6 Chapelle Saint-Marc A procession is held on April 25th on the Vaugiscle hill above the town.
Saint-Martin-de-Brômes
The locality 2 Saint-Martin-de-Brômes with a good 500 inhabitants is a little further downstream than Allemagne in the river valley of the Colostre. The name derives from the Roman soldier and later first bishop Martin de Tours, who in the 4th century brought the gospel to much of Gaul.
The 7 Tour de l'Horloge, Clock tower or also Tour des Templiers, even if the tower has nothing to do with the Knights Templar) is a landmark of the place. The 24 m high defense tower was built in the 14th century. Erected by the de Castellane family, it was later used as a dovecote and clock tower.
Quite a few buildings in the Rue Grande come from the 16./17. Century, the parish church 8 has its origin in the 12th century, the main nave and the apse are from the first time, side aisles were built in the 15th / 16th century. added. It can be viewed by appointment at the mayor's office in the season from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., closed on Mondays.
When building the D952 traces of a Celto-Ligurian oppidum from the 6th / 5th centuries were found near the confluence of the Colostre and Verdon at Buffe-Arnaud. Century B.C. discovered, another oppidum near Bas-Défends was secured with emergency excavations. Finds from the Roman period, the two Gallo-Roman lead coffins discovered in 1972, milestones and finds from necropolises are small historical museum exhibited on the ground floor of the tower.
- Gallo-Romain Museum, Tour Horloge. Tel.: (0)4 92 78 02 02. Open: 3: 00-7: 00 p.m. Tue-Sun, advance notice at the mayor's office.Price: 1.50 / 0.80 €.
Esparron-de-Verdon
South of Allemagne lies on the lower Verdon gorges, respectively. through the Barrage de Gréoux pent up Lac d'Esparron the locality 3 Esparron-de-Verdon, 1973 she had with the eastern one Albiosc merged. In the 11th century Esparron was first mentioned in a document, the tower of 9 Castle is likely from the 13th century. originate, it watched over the Verdon crossing and the Verdon bridge, built in 1725 and now sunk in the lake. The castle of Esparron (like that of Allemagne) belonged to the "de Castellane" family, who had it renovated in the Louis XIV style.
The local church 10 Saint-André in the Romanesque style was in the 18th century. rebuilt and fitted with a clock that dates from 1758. The 11 Chappelle Sainte-Anne lies on a knoll near the lake, the 12 Chappelle Sainte-Magdelaine on the road to Albiosc in the east.
The face of the place has changed significantly with the damming of the Verdon, when the mountain village with the lake was turned into a water sports resort. Several campsites have been established in the area, and canoes, electrically powered motor boats and sailing boats can be rented by numerous providers on the lake. Hiking trails and a botanical nature trail have been established.
activities
- Hiking: the long-distance hiking trail GR4 runs through the Plateau de Valensole from Gréoux-les-Bains above Riez to Moustiers; numerous other hiking trails are available as PR (petites randonnées) are signposted in the localities
- Water sports (swimming, paddling, sailing) in the Lac d'Esparron, the lower Verdon gorges and the Lac de Sainte-Croix
- Photography (lavender fields)
kitchen
Local products that are particularly worth mentioning are lavender honey, almond specialties, locally produced olive oil and truffles.
nightlife
In the high season, night owls tend to meet at the tourist destinations around the Lac de Sainte-Croix.
accommodation
- 1 Camping municipal "Les Lavandes", Route de Puimoisson, 04210 Valensole. Tel.: (0)4.92.74.86.14, (0)6.72.48.48.44, Email: [email protected]. open mid-April to late September.
- 2 Camping "OXYGENE", Les Chabrands, 04210 Valensole. Tel.: (0)4.92.72.41.77, Email: [email protected]. open mid-April - mid-September
- 3 Domaine Naturiste du Petit Arlane, Route de Riez, 04210 Valensole. Tel.: (0)4.92.74.82.70, Fax: (0)4.92.74.99.35, Email: [email protected]. open mid-April - end of September, naturist campsite.
security
The security situation in this rural area of Haute-Provence is unproblematic.
climate
Arid Mediterranean climate, in summer often daytime temperatures around 30 - 35 ° C, towards evening from August often thunderstorms; mild winter.
literature
Web links
- www.valensole.fr, Website of the town of Valensole with information about the region
