The Sault Lavender Festival is a highlight of the summer season in Provence. Drawing locals from across the region, and visitors from around the world, this annual festival is the perfect addition to your South of France itinerary. Each year, this village of only 1,300 residents opens its doors to share the bounty of their lavender harvest and celebrate with cultural events, local cuisine and educational experiences.
If you plan to be in Provence in the summer, it’s worth seeing if you can adjust your schedule to include a day at this family-friendly Provençal festival. You’ll get unique insight into the region and have the kind of memorable experience that you’ll be talking about for years to come.
Where is Sault?
Sault is a village in Provence, in the South of France. Sault is located in the Vaucluse department, which is famous for its colorful lavender fields and fragrant lavender harvest. Here, the lavender is at it’s peak from mid-July to mid-August, making it the perfect destination for travelers visiting Provence in the summer.
Sault is located about 70 kilometers east of Avignon, and is an easy one-hour drive. If you’re traveling in Provence using public transportation (like me!), Sault is connected to both Carpentras and Apt by intercity bus. You can check the schedules here.
What is the Sault Lavender Festival?
The Sault Lavender Festival is a celebration held annually every summer. Said to be the largest lavender festival in the world, the Sault Lavender Festival gives visitors the opportunity to learn more about the aromatic plant that is so important to the region.
The Sault Lavender Festival is centered around a traditional Provençal parade, where locals from Sault and the nearby villages dress in traditional clothing and celebrate throughout the streets along with carts, wagons and floats decorated with lavender.
The festival grounds showcase displays about the different types of agriculture in the Vaucluse, including animal agriculture, beekeeping and all the different uses for the lavender harvest, from perfumes to culinary arts.
A highlight of the Sault Lavender Festival is joining the locals for a typical outdoor lunch. This is no small fea(s)t – more than 1,000 people take part in the dining experience each year. If you’d like to reserve a seat at one of the communal lunch tables, contact the Sault en Provence Tourism Office by phone at +33 (0)4 90 64 01 21 well in advance.
When is the Sault Lavender Festival?
The Sault Lavender Festival was founded in 1984, and has now been taking place for more than thirty years. It is held annually on August 15th, which will fall on a Thursday in 2024.
Other Things To Do in Sault
Whether you’re coming on the day of the Sault Lavender Festival or at another time of year, there are several things to do in Sault while you are in town.
🪻 Sault Lavender Fields
In the rolling hills around Sault you will find many lavender farms and distilleries that open their doors to tourists, showing how they grow lavender and how they distill it to produce the lavender essential oil that is used in so many local products.
- Distillerie de Vallon – A small, family-run lavender farm and distillery that opens their doors to tourists on a drop-in basis, no formal reservation required. Check their current hours on Facebook.
- La Ferme aux Lavandes – Spend a few leisurely summer hours at this lavender farm where you can walk through the fields, relax in a lounge chair with views over the countryside, taste homemade sweets or shop for local products in the on-site shop.
- Sarraud Lavender Farm – Sarraud has specialized in harvesting lavender for cosmetics for almost 200 years. At their farm, they sell their lavender-infused skincare and wellness products direct to visitors.
🍓Sault Market Day
Sault hosts a weekly farmer’s market in the village center. It is held every Wednesday morning from 8:30 to 12:30, and it is the perfect opportunity to stock up on regional specialties and season produce.
⛪ Notre Dame de la Tour Church
In the heart of Sault, this 12th-century Romanesque church is typical of the region, and while it may not be particularly memorable, it’s still worth popping inside to enjoy the cool interior on a hot summer afternoon.
🍬 Boyer Nougat Factory
One of the oldest businesses in the Vaucluse Department, Nougat André Boyer has been making typical Provençal sweets since 1887. As the name suggests, the specialty here is nougat, a chewy candy made from sugar and whipped egg whites, with additions like nuts and dried fruit.
👟 Walking Tours of Sault
Stop by the Tourist Information Office in Sault to get a free map of the village and this one-hour walking tour through its most historical streets.
About one kilometer outside of town there is also a marked walking trail known as the Lavender Trail. The trail spans about five kilometers and takes between ninety minutes and two hours to complete, depending on how many photos you stop to take! You can find the starting point on Google Maps here. *Do not leave valuables in your car at the trailhead.
The Best Hotels in Sault
I didn’t stay overnight in Sault so I don’t have any personal hotel recommendations. However, I looked through quite a few hotel reviews and these were the ones that were most highly recommended:
- Maison Léonard du Ventoux – A charming guesthouse in Sault with a tranquil garden and beautiful views of the Vaucluse.
- Hotel d’Albion – This central hotel is popular with travelers touring Provence by bicycle or motorbike. Don’t miss their homemade croissants at breakfast!
During the lavender festival it may be easier to find accommodation in a nearby village, rather than the in center of Sault. You will need a car to reach Sault from these properties, but it will be worth it for their gorgeous countryside vistas!
- Château Ferrassières – The studio apartments here feature simple kitchen facilities where you can prepare meals with the local produce you buy in Sault.
- Mas de la Pauze – A great option if you’re traveling to Sault with kids, this family-friendly hotel has plenty of green space and its own small lavender garden.
- La Bastide des Bourguets – An adults-only property, this welcoming guesthouse has a beautiful outdoor pool where you can cool down after a day of summer sightseeing.
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Sault Lavender Tours
If you would prefer to visit Sault as part of an organized day trip, it’s possible to tour Sault and the surrounding lavender fields on a full-day or half-day tour from Avignon or Marseilles. These tours run seasonally, so if they aren’t offered during your visit it’s because the tour providers don’t believe you will get the full lavender experience at that time of year.
- Half-Day Lavender Tour from Avignon – This tour offers morning or afternoon departures from Avignon to Sault, including a visit to a lavender producer, stops for photos of the lavender fields, and free time to explore the village.
- Full-Day Lavender Tour from Marseille – This full day tour starts with a morning visit to a Sault lavender farm, followed by free time for lunch in the village. Then, you’ll head to nearby Gordes, a famous hilltop medieval village.
Provence will absolutely capture your heart!
Make sure to check out my one-week Provence itinerary, or focus in on the best things to do in nearby Avignon and the best day trips from Avignon.
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