Seasons
The Provençal year, from lavender to transhumance and from olives to Calendale.
Pl. 11.1 · 1 min read
When to see the lavender in bloom
From Valensole to Sault, flowering moves up with altitude, from mid-June to late July. Where, when, and how to enjoy the fields without damaging them.
Pl. 11.2 · 1 min read
Transhumance, from the plains to the summer pastures
At the start of summer, flocks leave the scorched plains for the high pastures. In Saint-Rémy-de-Provence their passage is celebrated on Whit Monday.
Pl. 11.3 · 1 min read
The olive harvest
From November to January, nets are spread under the trees and the mills run. How olives are harvested, when, and what the oil designations mean.
Pl. 11.4 · 2 min read
Calendale, from Saint Barbara's Day to Candlemas
Saint Barbara's wheat, the gros souper, the santons and the navettes: the long Christmas cycle in Provence, from 4 December to 2 February.
The wheel of the seasons
Twelve months around the plateau: what blooms, what is harvested, what is celebrated and what is in the sky. Pick a month on the wheel.
- Sky
- Festival
- Food
- Nature
01 January· this month
- FoodThe kings' cake — 6 January
- FoodTapenade with an aperitif — all year round, new olives in winter
- SkyThe Three Kings and Jean de Milan — winter evenings
- SkyShooting stars: Quadrantids — 3–4 January
- FoodCarpentras truffle market — Friday mornings in winter
- NatureOlive harvest and oil mills — November to January
The sky this month Orion, Taurus, Gemini
Read Tapenade · The santons of Provence · The year's shooting stars · The olive harvest · Calendale, from Saint Barbara's Day to Candlemas
02 February· this month
- FestivalCandlemas and navettes — 2 February
- SkyThe Three Kings and Jean de Milan — winter evenings
- FoodCarpentras truffle market — Friday mornings in winter
- NatureAlmond trees in blossom — late February and March, in the valleys
The sky this month Orion, Gemini, Canis Minor
03 March· this month
- NatureDry-stone walling workshops — spring and autumn
- FoodCarpentras truffle market — Friday mornings in winter
- NatureAlmond trees in blossom — late February and March, in the valleys
The sky this month Leo, Cancer, Ursa Major
04 April· this month
- NatureDry-stone walling workshops — spring and autumn
- SkyShooting stars: Lyrids — around 22 April
- FoodStrawberries from the Comtat — spring, around Carpentras
The sky this month Leo, Boötes, Virgo
Read The year's shooting stars · Dry stone: bories and terraces
05 May· this month
- NatureDry-stone walling workshops — spring and autumn
- FoodStrawberries from the Comtat — spring, around Carpentras
- FestivalTranshumance festival in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence — Whit Monday
The sky this month Boötes, Corona Borealis, Hercules
Read Transhumance, from the plains to the summer pastures · Dry stone: bories and terraces
06 June· this month
- NatureLavender in bloom — mid-June to late July, depending on altitude
- FoodSummer vegetables for the tian — June to September
- FoodTapenade with an aperitif — all year round, new olives in winter
- SkyThe summer Milky Way at its highest — moonless nights from June to August
- FestivalTranshumance festival in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence — Whit Monday
- NatureFlocks move up to the summer pastures — June
The sky this month Hercules, Lyra, Scorpius
Read Tapenade · When to see the lavender in bloom · Transhumance, from the plains to the summer pastures · True lavender and lavandin · Vegetable tian
07 July· this month
- NatureLavender in bloom — mid-June to late July, depending on altitude
- FoodFresh coco beans and soupe au pistou — July to September
- FoodSummer vegetables for the tian — June to September
- FoodTapenade with an aperitif — all year round, new olives in winter
- SkyThe summer Milky Way at its highest — moonless nights from June to August
- NatureLavender harvest and distilling — July and August
The sky this month Cygnus, Lyra, Aquila
Read Tapenade · When to see the lavender in bloom · Soupe au pistou · True lavender and lavandin · Vegetable tian
08 August· this month
- FoodFresh coco beans and soupe au pistou — July to September
- FoodSummer vegetables for the tian — June to September
- FoodTapenade with an aperitif — all year round, new olives in winter
- SkyThe summer Milky Way at its highest — moonless nights from June to August
- NatureLavender harvest and distilling — July and August
- SkyShooting stars: Perseids — 12–13 August
- FestivalLavender festival in Sault — 15 August
The sky this month Cygnus, Lyra, Aquila
Read Tapenade · When to see the lavender in bloom · Soupe au pistou · True lavender and lavandin · The year's shooting stars · Vegetable tian
09 September· this month
- FoodFresh coco beans and soupe au pistou — July to September
- FoodSummer vegetables for the tian — June to September
- NatureDry-stone walling workshops — spring and autumn
- NatureFlocks come back down — September and October
- FoodGreen table olives — September and October
The sky this month the Summer Triangle, Pegasus, Andromeda
Read Soupe au pistou · Transhumance, from the plains to the summer pastures · Vegetable tian · Dry stone: bories and terraces
10 October· this month
- NatureDry-stone walling workshops — spring and autumn
- SkyShooting stars: Orionids — around 21 October
- NatureFlocks come back down — September and October
- FoodGreen table olives — September and October
The sky this month Pegasus, Andromeda, Cassiopeia
Read Transhumance, from the plains to the summer pastures · The year's shooting stars · The olive harvest · Dry stone: bories and terraces
11 November· this month
- FoodTapenade with an aperitif — all year round, new olives in winter
- SkyShooting stars: Leonids — around 17 November
- FoodCarpentras truffle market — Friday mornings in winter
- NatureOlive harvest and oil mills — November to January
- FestivalMarseille santon fair — late November to late December
The sky this month Andromeda, Perseus, Cassiopeia
Read Tapenade · The santons of Provence · The year's shooting stars · The olive harvest
12 December· this month
- FestivalSaint Barbara's wheat — 4 December
- FoodThe gros souper and the thirteen desserts — 24 December
- FoodTapenade with an aperitif — all year round, new olives in winter
- SkyThe Three Kings and Jean de Milan — winter evenings
- SkyShooting stars: Geminids — 13–14 December
- FoodCarpentras truffle market — Friday mornings in winter
- NatureOlive harvest and oil mills — November to January
- FestivalMarseille santon fair — late November to late December
The sky this month Taurus, Orion, Auriga
Read Tapenade · The santons of Provence · The year's shooting stars · The olive harvest · The thirteen desserts of Christmas · Calendale, from Saint Barbara's Day to Candlemas