Sault Plateau and Luberon from Avignon: 2026 guide

The Sault Plateau is the other major lavender region in Provence — less famous than Valensole, less photographed, but this is where the real fine perfumery lavender grows. Perched at 800 m at the foot of Mont Ventoux, it’s also the last lavender to bloom in Provence: if you’re traveling in August, it’s your only chance to see the fields in full flower.

In 30 seconds

• Distance from Avignon: 90 km, 1h30 by car
• Altitude: 800 m (high plateau, cooler climate than the lowlands)
• Lavender bloom: July 5 through August 25 (peak around July 20–25)
• Production: AOP fine lavender (high-end perfumery)
• Our tip: pair it with the Abbey of Sénanque or Gordes for a full day

History & context

The Sault Plateau is a 765 km² limestone high plateau, bordered to the north by Mont Ventoux (1,909 m), to the east by the Vaucluse mountains, and to the south by the Nesque Gorges. It’s a pastoral and agricultural territory, long isolated, that has held on to a traditional economy: sheep, spelt, honey, and lavender.

Fine lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) has been grown here since the 19th century. Unlike lavandin (the industrial hybrid grown in the lowlands), true fine lavender only grows above 800 m. It yields less oil but the oil is more complex, more subtle — it’s what perfumes the great houses (Chanel, Guerlain). Sault claims 3,000 hectares of fine lavender and has held the AOP label since 1981.

The village of Sault (1,200 inhabitants) sits at 765 m, with its Romanesque church and a panoramic viewpoint over the plateau.

Why visit

• Late lavender: the only one still in bloom in August
• AOP fine lavender: the real thing, not lowland lavandin
• High plateau: 5–10 °C cooler than Avignon in summer, breathable air
• Artisan distilleries: tours, tastings, direct sales
• Nesque Gorges: a spectacular scenic drive (D942)
• Mont Ventoux: the north-face climb starts from Sault (26 km)
• Moderate crowds: far less busy than Valensole

Getting there from Lavande Évasion / Lavande Dorée

From Lavande Évasion and Lavande Dorée, plan for a car — there’s no practical public transport alternative.

By car (1h30):

• Leave Avignon on the A7 toward Lyon, exit Avignon-Nord
• D942 toward Carpentras
• Continue on the D942 to Sault (scenic route through the Nesque Gorges)
• Free parking at the entrance to Sault village

Alternative route: via Apt and the D943 — more direct but less scenic. Better if you’re combining the trip with Gordes or Sénanque.

Practical visit info

• Season: mid-June through late August for the lavender (peak mid-July to mid-August)
• Cost: free access to the roads and field edges (don’t walk into the rows)
• Distilleries: €5–10 for a visit with tasting (check with each producer)
• Tourist office: Sault, ot-sault.com (hours vary)
• Food: traditional inns in Sault and Aurel, regional cuisine
• Fuel: fill up in Avignon — gas stations are rare on the plateau
• Lodging: available on site, but nights stay cool even in summer (bring a fleece)

A host’s note

Our perfect Sault Plateau day: leave Avignon at 8 AM, reach Sault by 9:30, coffee on the village square. Tour a distillery (Distillerie Aroma’Plantes on the route to Saint-Trinit runs free visits year-round). Picnic around noon in a field — sourdough bread, plateau goat cheese, lavender honey, peaches. Nap in the shade, then take the scenic D942 back through the Nesque Gorges, stopping at the Castelleras lookout. Back to Avignon around 6 PM. When we host friends in July, we take them here rather than Valensole — quieter, more authentic, and the lavender smells stronger.

For more, read our full lavender fields guide or discover the Abbey of Sénanque, the other must-see lavender spot.