Lavender Route 1

Route 1: Towns and Villages of Upper Provence

Begin your day at Forcalquier. If you can, be here on a Monday. This unspoiled town is the site of Monday morning market known throughout France as the largest in Provence. The stalls selling fruit, vegetables, local crafts and art, hats, handmade soaps of infinite variety and tantalizing scent, dancingly colored provençal fabrics will tempt you irresistibly. Leaving town you may get lost as roads are badly marked in this area but don’t be concerned—getting lost is part of the fun, and taking any road will inevitably take you to a new experience.

You will travel to and through villages sometimes too small even to have a bakery—startling in France!—and eventually reach road signs pointing you in the direction of the larger towns. But if you can follow the D950 you will be on a scenic road leading to Limans, then to Le Rocher d’Ongles. Continue on the D950 to Banon, famous for its goat cheese wrapped in chestnut leaves and tied in little bundles with twine. Leaving Banon, follow the D51 to the D201 until you reach Simiane-la-Rotund. You will see this village perched high on a hill overlooking fields of lavender; it is one of the famous perched villages of Provence. It is a good stopping place for coffee, food, photos or simply to visit the local artists selling their wares here. A huge rotund tower at the top, and the hollyhocks blooming everywhere in summer make this an interesting village to walk.



Leaving Banon, follow the D51 to Rustrel, then to Gignac, where you can take the D33to Viens and then Cereste. At Cereste, go in the direction of Apt on N100. Keep your eyes open on the left in about 20 Kilometers for the sign to Saignon. Another perched village, Saignon, is a fascinating place to wander and perhaps to stay the night. It would also be a good base for relaxed exploring in the region