Page 254 - Lonely Planet France’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

The Drive » Find yourself recreated medieval herb The Drive » Get on the D13,
in a gentle world of plane-tree gardens, fragrant with then follow the signs to the
arcades, wildflowers and, yes, native lavender, mints and D5 for the drive to Manosque
lavender. Around 4km south on mugworts. The bookshop (roughly 30 minutes in total).
the D4100 you’ll come to our is inviting, too.
next stop, just before the pretty The walled town of
town of Mane.
Mane is lovely for stroll- 9 Manosque
ing. Or for a mysterious, Manosque has two lovely
TRIP HIGHLIGHT potentially curative fountains and a historic
8 Prieuré de detour, visit remote cobblestoned core, but
Salagon Église de Cháteauneuf, traffic and suburban
where a hermit church
nothingness make visit-
This beautiful 13th-century sister concocts natural ing a nuisance. But just
priory, located on the remedies and makes southeast is the home of
outskirts of Mane, is home jam. Head 800m south of l’Occitane, the company
to a garden museum, the Mane to the Hôtel Mas du that turned traditional
Jardins Salagon (www. Pont Roman, then turn lavender-, almond- and
musee-de-salagon.com; adult/ right and either park and olive oil–based Provençal
child/family €8/6/22; h10am- walk, or drive the bumpy skincare into a global
8pm Jun-Aug, to 7pm May & Sep, final 3km. Be warned: the phenomenon. Factory
to 6pm Oct–mid-Dec & Feb-Apr; good sister doesn’t always tours can be booked
c). This is ethno-botany reveal herself. Just in through the tourist
at its most poetic and case, bring a picnic and office; the shop offers a
sensual: wander through consider it an adventure. flat 10% discount, and the
odd bargain.
The Drive » Leave the
freeways and ring roads behind
DETOUR: and cross the Durance River
PROVENCE & SOUTHEAST FRANCE 22 LAvENDER ROUTE
THE LUBERON towards the quieter D6 (from
where it will take around 20
minutes to reach the town of
Start: 8 Prieuré de Salagon Valensole); check the rear-view
The Luberon’s other, southern, half is equally as mirrors for mountain views.
florally blessed. Lavender carpets the Plateau de
Claparèdes between Buoux (west), Sivergues
(south), Auribeau (east) and Saignon (north). Cycle, a Plateau de
walk or motor through the lavender fields and along valensole
the northern slopes of Mourre Nègre (1125m) – the Things get very relaxed
Luberon’s highest point, accessible from Cucuron. once you hit the D6,
The D113 climbs to idyllic lavender distillery Les and the road begins
Agnels (%04 90 74 34 60; www.lesagnels.com; rte de a gentle climb. This
Buoux, btwn Buoux & Apt; adult/child €6/free; h10am-7pm dreamily quiet plateau
Apr-Sep, to 5.30pm Oct-Mar), which distils lavender, has Provence’s greatest
cypress and rosemary. The small on-site spa has a concentration of lavender
lavender-scented swimming pool. Stay at Chambre
avec Vue (%04 90 04 85 01; www.chambreavecvue.com; farms, and a checker-
rue de la Bourgade; r €90-110; hclosed Dec-Feb) in tiny, board of waving wheat
hip Saignon, which perches on high rocky flanks, its and lavender rows stretch
narrow streets crowning a hill ringed with craggy to the horizon, or at least
scrub and petite lavender plots, with incredible vistas until Riez. Fine picnic
across the Luberon to Mont Ventoux. spots and photo ops are
not hard to find.

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