A stay in Provence
B&Bs and holiday cottages for exploring the Valensole Plateau, its lavender fields and villages of Haute-Provence.
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1 property: B&Bs, holiday cottages and rentals
Garden or park
Meals with the hosts
Pool
Moustiers-Sainte-Marie
Charming bed and breakfast
In Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, five spacious rooms, including a family suite, occupy a former pottery workshop restored with restraint. Comfortable interiors and a terrace above the stream invite leisurely pauses. A house rooted in the village’s craft traditions, for exploring the Verdon and enjoying seasonal cooking.
Places to explore Moustiers-Sainte-Marie · Gorges du Verdon · Lac de Sainte-Croix · Valensole
In Haute-Provence, the Valensole plateau is farmland between the Durance and the Verdon. Lavandin fields, cereals and almond trees create open landscapes dotted with farms and villages. Staying here combines the plateau’s agriculture with neighbouring valleys; plan visits according to distances and the season.
Flowering attracts many visitors in early summer, but dates vary with weather and harvesting. Discover Valensole’s lavender from roads and authorised stopping places. Fields remain working farmland: do not enter crops without permission or block farm access. Producers may also introduce essential oils and honey, according to their visiting arrangements.
Valensole village is explored through lanes, squares and fountains around Saint-Blaise Church. Shops and markets offer a stop during a day on the plateau. At Riez, Roman columns recall the importance of the ancient town. The old centre and its markets complete a heritage visit without a long walk.
To the east, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie combines lanes, pottery workshops and the climb to Notre-Dame-de-Beauvoir. Lake Sainte-Croix offers other outings, including Sainte-Croix-sur-Verdon. The Verdon gorges lie beyond the lake. To limit driving, separate days exploring the plateau’s villages and crops from those around the lake and canyon.
Lavender usually flowers from mid-June to mid-July, with some variation depending on weather and altitude. For a quieter visit, plan early mornings, late afternoons or a weekday stay.
Valensole, Riez, Allemagne-en-Provence, Moustiers-Sainte-Marie and the villages near Sainte-Croix Lake are practical bases for exploring the lavender plateau, Haute-Provence and the Verdon Gorges.
Without a car, travelling between villages and walking routes can be difficult. Choose accommodation near the places you want to visit and check bus connections. Cycling suits riders used to the distances and terrain, allowing for summer heat.
