Lavender, aromatic and medicinal plants are all native to the arid mountains of the Diois, in marked contrast with the ragged cliffs of the Vercors. Set out to discover the plants on the ‘Routes de la Lavande’, take a selfie and stock up with aromatic plants harvested in the Biovallée on our markets or in our distilleries. Take a little bottle of essential oil back home as an olfactory souvenir of your holidays.
Let yourself become inebriated by lavender when you follow the « Routes de la Lavande» between Saint-Nazaire-le-Désert and Die. Experience the incredible subtlety of the lavender perfume and the blue to violet tints in the landscape, between 500 and 1 200 metres altitude, from mid-June to early August - even mid-August on the heights above Valdrôme. This AOP plant, which contains many medicinal, cosmetic and culinary properties requires 100 kilos of lavender flower to produce 1 litre of essential Haute-Provence lavender oil!
Lavender is a symbol of tenderness in the language of flowers, so when you get back home from your holidays, pass this message onto your nearest and dearest by bringing them back some essential oil, a plant to pot, a syrup, some soap or a bouquet, which you can buy in the Office de Tourisme or direct from our producers when you visit their distillery.
Committed and visionary entrepreneurs have transformed this pioneer territory, situated at the heart of the Biovallée®, into a world leader in organic growing and the processing of plants. Today the ‘natural’ appeal of these plants and ‘alternative medicines’ have given natural remedies a second wind. This has ensured the Drôme has become the top French département in the production of aromatic plants such as: thyme, mint, rosemary, clary sage, meadowsweet, basil, etc.
A visit to the botanical gardens of the old monastery at Sainte-Croix gives you the chance to learn the basics about aromatic and medicinal plants. The ‘Fête aux plantes rares’ in Châtillon-en-Diois in September gives you the opportunity to buy plants which you will be able to grow at home. If you want to learn about harvesting plants in the wild, sign into a thematic course!
