The lavender fields of the Luberon are at their peak from late June through July, when the rows of blue-purple run along the hillsides between the limestone villages. The most famous views are around Gordes and the Sénanque Abbey to the north, but the fields scattered throughout the Luberon valley — particularly along the road between Bonnieux and Apt — are just as beautiful and considerably less crowded.
The harvest happens in July by machine or by hand depending on the terrain. The cut fields smell extraordinary for weeks afterward. The best time to visit for photography is early morning when the light is low and the insects are still.