In the Fields surrounding the Abbey of Senanque the month of June sees rows of spiky green
start to turn purple. By the third week in June the valleys have turned to mats of parallel rows of purple.
With lavender in the foreground and the Abbey de Senanque as backdrop, tourist come to the valley on
the backside of the village of Gordes looking to make that perfect photo of ripening lavender.
start to turn purple. By the third week in June the valleys have turned to mats of parallel rows of purple.
With lavender in the foreground and the Abbey de Senanque as backdrop, tourist come to the valley on
the backside of the village of Gordes looking to make that perfect photo of ripening lavender.
Abbey of Senanque Lavender Near Gordes Provence, France
These spiked mats of purple in front of the Abbey of Senanque are not planted to attract tourists, however,
they are an agricultural crop important to the Provence farmer. The rows of purple flowers are lavender, a
cash crop that eventually turns from its showy field display into a dozen products that we use every day.
they are an agricultural crop important to the Provence farmer. The rows of purple flowers are lavender, a
cash crop that eventually turns from its showy field display into a dozen products that we use every day.
The monks at the Abbey of Senanque offer hand made items in the abbey gift
shop.
They tend gardens for their food and grow Lavender as a cash crop.
Lavender today is not the big business it once was. 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.
During a visit to the Abbey of Senanque, a short trip on the Gordes road will
bring you to the village of Coustellet on the road from Avignon to Apt, (D-901 to
D-900)near Bonnieux and Gordes. There a unique museum tells the lavender
story: the Musee De La Lavande: The Lincele' Family's Lavender Museum.
shop.
They tend gardens for their food and grow Lavender as a cash crop.
Lavender today is not the big business it once was. 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.
During a visit to the Abbey of Senanque, a short trip on the Gordes road will
bring you to the village of Coustellet on the road from Avignon to Apt, (D-901 to
D-900)near Bonnieux and Gordes. There a unique museum tells the lavender
story: the Musee De La Lavande: The Lincele' Family's Lavender Museum.
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.
become perfumes and medicines, cleaning agents and spices that we find on our market shelves.
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
then have floated to the top for siphoning off.
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
then have floated to the top for siphoning off.
Visitors to Provence during lavender season in mid June and early July will commonly see three
plants in bloom before the end-of-July harvest:
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 sachets. 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.
Visitors can tour the interior
of the Abbey of Senanque and
they can lodge in the Senanque
Abbey for religious retreats.
The Abbey of Senanque was
constructed by Cistercian
monks in the Romanesque style
during the middle of the 12th
Century.
of the Abbey of Senanque and
they can lodge in the Senanque
Abbey for religious retreats.
The Abbey of Senanque was
constructed by Cistercian
monks in the Romanesque style
during the middle of the 12th
Century.
In June and July, lavender surrounds the Senanque Abbey near the
village of Gordes in the Vaucluse of Provence
village of Gordes in the Vaucluse of Provence
In the valley where the First Century Julien Bridge
spans a feeder of the Durance River, lavender
fields color the area near the Abbey of Senanque,
the valley below the village of Lacoste
spans a feeder of the Durance River, lavender
fields color the area near the Abbey of Senanque,
the valley below the village of Lacoste
In the area of Lacoste and Gordes lavender fields surround the villages. The
Abbey makes an interesting photo because of the fields of lavender
surrounding the building.
The monks at the Abbey invite guest who would like a religious retreat to stay
as overnight guests for up to eight days. (except Jan. Feb.)
The visitor would take meals in silence with the monks and participate in daily
Christian services.
Guided Tours of the Romanesque interior of the abbey buildings are available
daily.
Tel 04-90-72-05-72 Abbey de Senanque website www.senanque.fr
Email visites@senanque.fr
Abbey makes an interesting photo because of the fields of lavender
surrounding the building.
The monks at the Abbey invite guest who would like a religious retreat to stay
as overnight guests for up to eight days. (except Jan. Feb.)
The visitor would take meals in silence with the monks and participate in daily
Christian services.
Guided Tours of the Romanesque interior of the abbey buildings are available
daily.
Tel 04-90-72-05-72 Abbey de Senanque website www.senanque.fr
Email visites@senanque.fr
Lodging and vacation rentals are available in the
surrounding village such as Gordes, Cavaillon,
Lacoste, Rousillon and Goult
surrounding village such as Gordes, Cavaillon,
Lacoste, Rousillon and Goult
To reach The Abbaye de Senanque;
Go east from Avignon on the D-900 to the D2
Take a left and head towards the village of Gordes. Watch for the turnout on your left for the road above
the valley were you will find the Abbey de Senanque.
Go east from Avignon on the D-900 to the D2
Take a left and head towards the village of Gordes. Watch for the turnout on your left for the road above
the valley were you will find the Abbey de Senanque.
The Abbey of Senanque's monks grow lavender Near Gordes, Provence, France. The Abbey is
also called the Abbaye Notre Dame de Senanque.
Monks still live in the abbey where they grow lavender and tend honey bees in fields
surrounding the Abbey. See Lodging Options at the Abbey below
also called the Abbaye Notre Dame de Senanque.
Monks still live in the abbey where they grow lavender and tend honey bees in fields
surrounding the Abbey. See Lodging Options at the Abbey below
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
 | |  | |  | |  |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
 | |  |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
 | |  | |  | |  |
| Provence Events and Sightseeing |
| Provence Transportation |
| Provence Lodging, Villa, Vacation Rental |
| France Events and Sightseeing |
Senanque Abbey is in a valley near the village of Gordes in the Vaucluse of Provence
Custom Search
Save On Air Travel
When traveling to France by air you can start saving on your air fare by Parking your Car for Two Weeks
Free after one night Lodging in Airport Hotels near your home city. (60 US cities).
The early shuttle from the hotel to the airline terminal will allow you to book an early flight and save money
on the airfare. Two weeks of free parking offsets the cost of the hotel room and you do not need to arrange
for a limo from your home to the airport. Some of the hotels in the program offer Free, 24 hour shuttles to
the airport.
Most hotels offer two weeks free parking with one night stay, some three weeks or a reasonable day rate
for extra days. Cruise passengers can take advantage of these deals also at some hotels. See more info
at link below with detailed information and photos of included hotels with reviews.
Convenient Two Week Free Airport Parking with a one night hotel stay could save you money and
enhance your experience. Save on transportation to the airport and save money on less expensive early
flight tickets with a hotel stay near the airport
When traveling to France by air you can start saving on your air fare by Parking your Car for Two Weeks
Free after one night Lodging in Airport Hotels near your home city. (60 US cities).
The early shuttle from the hotel to the airline terminal will allow you to book an early flight and save money
on the airfare. Two weeks of free parking offsets the cost of the hotel room and you do not need to arrange
for a limo from your home to the airport. Some of the hotels in the program offer Free, 24 hour shuttles to
the airport.
Most hotels offer two weeks free parking with one night stay, some three weeks or a reasonable day rate
for extra days. Cruise passengers can take advantage of these deals also at some hotels. See more info
at link below with detailed information and photos of included hotels with reviews.
Convenient Two Week Free Airport Parking with a one night hotel stay could save you money and
enhance your experience. Save on transportation to the airport and save money on less expensive early
flight tickets with a hotel stay near the airport
Sell Travel Photos, Help Pay for Your Vacation, Click Image
for How-To Book Offer
for How-To Book Offer
Lavender fields in the valley below the town of Lacoste in Provence.
Custom Search
Bookmark this Page
Press Ctrl - D
or Share
Press Ctrl - D
or Share