Lavender Museum, Provence: In June some magic happens in the fields of
northern Provence. Rows of spiky green start to turn purple and by the third
week in June, the valleys have turned to mats of parallel rows of purple while the
tourist come looking to make that perfect photo of ripening lavender.
northern Provence. Rows of spiky green start to turn purple and by the third
week in June, the valleys have turned to mats of parallel rows of purple while the
tourist come looking to make that perfect photo of ripening lavender.
Lavender Museum Provence Musee De La Lavande
These spiked mats of purple are not planted for the tourist, however, they are an agricultural crop once as
important to the Provence farmer as the olive or the grape, the cherry or the apricot: they are lavender, still a
cash crop that eventually turns from its showy field display into a dozen products that we use every day.
important to the Provence farmer as the olive or the grape, the cherry or the apricot: they are lavender, still a
cash crop that eventually turns from its showy field display into a dozen products that we use every day.
Lavender today is not the big business it once was, however; synthetics have pushed it aside. The trade continues
regardless, partly out of tradition and a demand for excellence and authenticity, and partly because the synthetics
just haven't totally measured up to the subtlety and efficacy of true lavender or Fine lavender as the medicinal plant
is called.
A small building in the village of Coustellet on the road from Avignon to Apt, (D-901 to D-900)near Bonnieux and
Gordes, tells the story; it's called the Musee De La Lavande: The Lincele' Family's Lavender Museum.
regardless, partly out of tradition and a demand for excellence and authenticity, and partly because the synthetics
just haven't totally measured up to the subtlety and efficacy of true lavender or Fine lavender as the medicinal plant
is called.
A small building in the village of Coustellet on the road from Avignon to Apt, (D-901 to D-900)near Bonnieux and
Gordes, tells the story; it's called the Musee De La Lavande: The Lincele' Family's Lavender Museum.
If you didn't know that it was a lavender museum you would think they were honoring moonshine, but
the process is similar; lavender goes through a distilling process to release and concentrate the oils
that will eventually become perfumes and medicines, cleaning agents and spices that we find on our
market shelves.
the process is similar; lavender goes through a distilling process to release and concentrate the oils
that will eventually become perfumes and medicines, cleaning agents and spices that we find on our
market shelves.
The equipment evolved over the years, some becoming mobile and brought to th fields to follow the
July harvest, some changing due to the cost and availability of energy sources.
July harvest, some changing due to the cost and availability of energy sources.
The lavender plant itself did some evolving also. First found wild and harvested for medicinal and household
purposes before Roman times, the self-seeding perennial grew wild in most of Provence at an altitude above
800 meters. (2600 feet) The Romans reportedly gave the plant the name lavender from their Latin word
Lavare, the word for clean or wash.
Commercial production now takes place mostly in the higher elevations around the town of Sault and the
foothills of Mount Ventoux. The plant now grown commercially is not quite the same as the original wild
lavender harvested by the ancients.
purposes before Roman times, the self-seeding perennial grew wild in most of Provence at an altitude above
800 meters. (2600 feet) The Romans reportedly gave the plant the name lavender from their Latin word
Lavare, the word for clean or wash.
Commercial production now takes place mostly in the higher elevations around the town of Sault and the
foothills of Mount Ventoux. The plant now grown commercially is not quite the same as the original wild
lavender harvested by the ancients.
An early model "Open Fire Still" , the earliest dating to 1626, would have the lavender blossoms
with water placed in the large copper kettle while a wood fire was stoked beneath the kettle. The
water turned to steam which absorbed the oils in the flower and carried them up and out into a
condenser, the circular tubing to the right. This condensing coil would have been immersed in
cold water to reduce the steam temperature enough to condense the vapor back into liquid water
which, with its accompanying lavender oils, would have flowed into a small container. The oils of
the lavender would than have floated to the top for siphoning off.
with water placed in the large copper kettle while a wood fire was stoked beneath the kettle. The
water turned to steam which absorbed the oils in the flower and carried them up and out into a
condenser, the circular tubing to the right. This condensing coil would have been immersed in
cold water to reduce the steam temperature enough to condense the vapor back into liquid water
which, with its accompanying lavender oils, would have flowed into a small container. The oils of
the lavender would than have floated to the top for siphoning off.
Visitors will commonly see three plants in bloom before the end-of-July harvest:
- Fine Lavender, the original plant having one flower, this is the one important plant for medicinal
lavender products. This plant grows at 2,600 feet elevation in the foothills of Mount Ventoux, The
Vaucluse, the Alps of High Provence, and The Drome. - Spike Lavender, a plant with several branches and not used commercially in Provence
although it is grown in Spain and Portugal, according to the Museum literature. - Lavandine, a hybrid of true or fine lavender and spike lavender, this sterile plant grown by
cuttings at lower elevations has several flowers in round clumps and is used commercially in
detergents and sachettes. The plant produces much more essential oil per acre than Fine
Lavender but does not have the subtlety of fine lavender or its medicinal value.
stills grew larger and became mechanised . the introduction of the steam gauge in the 1920s allowed for
faster processing at more controlled temperature. Coal and natural gas became fuel along with wood and
the burning of the spent lavender plants, Winches and cranes allowed for high production.
faster processing at more controlled temperature. Coal and natural gas became fuel along with wood and
the burning of the spent lavender plants, Winches and cranes allowed for high production.
Do You need an International Driving Permit to
Drive in Europe.
In France and Italy you can rent a car and do not need to
show an International Permit, only your drivers license
Italian law, however, requires that..... see Article
Drive in Europe.
In France and Italy you can rent a car and do not need to
show an International Permit, only your drivers license
Italian law, however, requires that..... see Article
No Passing for
commercial
vehicles
commercial
vehicles
No Passing
zone ends
zone ends
| Rotary with yield to traffic in rotary |
SoftSeatTravel.com is affiliated with Auto Europe because we like their selection, price, and ease of
booking on the web. . Shop online well ahead of your trip and choose diesel (more economical) or gas,
luggage space,(important) standard or automatic,(important) two door, four door and other options. Renting
for more than 17 days; see their options see renting a vehicle in Provence
booking on the web. . Shop online well ahead of your trip and choose diesel (more economical) or gas,
luggage space,(important) standard or automatic,(important) two door, four door and other options. Renting
for more than 17 days; see their options see renting a vehicle in Provence
Speed limits will be clearly marked and the Rotary will be a welcome site with its directions to various
towns. Gassing up is similar to US with credit card and automatic shut-off at modern pumps. Car rental are
available in all large cities and at many TGV Train Stations..
towns. Gassing up is similar to US with credit card and automatic shut-off at modern pumps. Car rental are
available in all large cities and at many TGV Train Stations..
Information for those renting a vehicle in Provence
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