Plateau of Valensole and its history :
Who has never seen this picture of the lavender field of the Plateau de Valensole? Who does not dream of photographing the Plateau de Valensole? Isn’t it a natural and wild masterpiece in its own right? If you are here, it is most certainly because you are looking for the best advice to take the perfect picture of the famous lavender field of the Plateau de Valensole.
The Plateau de Valensole is located in the south of the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence department, not far from Dignes-les-Bains and the Gorges du Verdon. This territory is covered with lavender and wheat fields. This typical landscape of Provence leaves us speechless. Between the colorful paintings and the sweet scents of the South, it is an enchantment for the eyes and for the sense of smell. Today it is one of the most important places for the cultivation of lavender.
How to photograph the Valensole plateau?
In this article, I give you my advice to make the perfect photo!
– When to take a picture?
– With what equipment?
– And above all, my map to locate the best points of view.
When is the best time to photograph the lavender fields of Valensole?
During the lavender flowering season, between the end of June and the beginning of July, the tourist influx can be very important, with tourists coming from all over the world to take THE mythical photo.
The good news is that these groups of tourists stay in the same place. You will therefore always manage to capture a field without them inviting themselves in front of your lens.
On the other hand, it is at sunrise and sunset that you will be able to capture the best images of the lavender field. Not only is the influx of tourists a little less important, but the light will also be much softer.
And if you go there early in the morning, you might even encounter a hot air balloon!
Which material to choose for best results?
From a purely photographic point of view, the Valensole plateau is interesting because it presents many reliefs. For this type of landscape, I used a telephoto lens that will allow you to accentuate the shapes and reliefs.
If you have the equipment (and the required authorizations), you can also try shooting with a drone. But beware of the aerodromes which are numerous in the region!
Where is the small stone house on the Plateau de Valensole?
One of the emblematic spots to take a picture is of course the little stone house. It seems to be lost in an infinite lavender field with the mountain as a backdrop.
But the small stone house is not the only photogenic spot on the Valensole plateau. If you take the road towards Valensole from Gréoux-les-Bains, you can see the sunflower fields and the solitary tree. The contrast between the sunflowers and the lavender fields next to them is very interesting, especially at sunset.
You can find all these spots listed on the map below.
Have you ever been to Valensole? Did these tips help you realize the photo of your dreams? Feel free to tell me about your experience in the comments!
The map of the Valensole plateau
