2025 Sault Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in May)

Hey everyone! Nestled in the hills of Provence lies a breathtaking "sky city" that will instantly capture your heart—the charming village of Gordes 🌄. With its thousand-year-old stone houses, stunning mountain views, and authentic cuisine... follow this guide to unlock its romantic secrets 👇 **First Impressions of the Village** 💫 Recognized as one of "France's Most Beautiful Villages" 🏔️ Perched on the southern ridge of the Vaucluse Mountains at 370m elevation 🏠 A cluster of granite houses built since the 11th century, resembling silver stars scattered across the hills ✨. Wander through the winding cobblestone streets—every stone tells an ancient story 📜. **Must-Try Food List** 1️⃣ **Provençal Beef Stew in Red Wine** 🍷 A must-order at local countryside restaurants! Tender beef slow-cooked in rich red wine sauce with potatoes and carrots 🥕—perfect with bread. 📍 Recommended spot: **La Trinquette** Enjoy mountain views from the outdoor seating! 2️⃣ **Lavender Ice Cream** 🍦 A local specialty! The delicate floral aroma blends with creamy sweetness—available at street-side shops. Super photogenic 📸! 3️⃣ **Goat Cheese Platter** 🧀 A Southern French classic! Served with baguette and jam, featuring cheeses at different aging stages. Don’t miss the goat cheese tart (Tartiflette)—crispy crust + creamy filling = pure bliss! 4️⃣ **Provençal Fish Soup** 🐟 A hearty broth made with assorted seafood, paired with garlic bread and aioli. A local favorite for its rich, warming flavor! **Top Photo Spots** 1️⃣ **Village Viewpoint** 🌅 From the roadside lookout, capture the entire stone village—best at sunset! Golden light bathes the walls for dreamy shots 📷. 2️⃣ **Castle Ruins Platform** 🏰 The medieval ruins offer a dramatic backdrop of stone houses and valleys. Fly a drone here for epic aerial views! 3️⃣ **Hidden Alley Corners** 🧭 Wander the maze-like lanes—every turn reveals photogenic scenes: weathered walls, flower-filled windowsills, arched doorways... straight out of a movie 🎞️. 4️⃣ **St. Francis Church** ⛪️ The white church against blue skies is pure serenity. Morning light on the steps makes for perfect portraits or empty-frame shots! **Nearby Itinerary Ideas** Start from Avignon 🚙 and follow this classic Provence route: Sault (Springs Village) → Sénanque Abbey → Roussillon (Ochre Village) → Gordes. This loop covers: 💦 Europe’s natural spring waterfalls 💐 A white abbey amid lavender fields 🟠 A fairytale town in ochre hues —all the best of Southern France in one trip! In Gordes, time seems to slow down... Bask in the Provençal sun, stroll ancient streets, savor local flavors, and snap those dreamy shots. Ready for this romantic escape? 💓 Gather your friends and unlock the magic of this sky city!

From June to August every year, Provence seems to be under a spell. Large tracts of lavender spread from the horizon to the valley. The endless purple makes people feel like they have walked into a fairy tale. Today I want to recommend to you the three major lavender resorts in Provence: Sénanque Abbey, Sault, and Valensole. Each of them has its own style and is full of romance, making it a paradise for photography, aesthetics and nature lovers! 🕘【Opening hours】： 🌞 Best viewing period: from mid-to-late June to mid-July every year. The flowering period in So Village is relatively later, but it can still be seen in late July. 🧭 It is recommended to avoid noon. The light in the morning and evening is more suitable for taking pictures, and there are relatively fewer people. ⛔ Note: Some private lavender fields do not allow entry for photography, please respect local regulations. 💴【Ticket Price】: Sénanque Abbey: It costs about €8 to visit the interior of the abbey, and taking photos outside is free. Sault/Valensole lavender fields: Most of the fields are open to the public and no tickets are required, but if you want to visit the museum or workshop, you need to buy a ticket separately. ⛺【Amusement Project】: Abbaye de Sénanque——[Purple Faith in Tranquility] 🏛 This 12th-century monastery is surrounded by lavender fields. The stone monastery blends perfectly with the purple lavender, which is quaint and quiet. You can visit the abbey, learn about its history, and take photos of the beautiful lavender fields surrounding it. ✝️ The monastery is still in operation, please keep quiet and take photos without disturbing the monks' lives. 📸 Photography tips: The front shooting angle needs to be on the roadside, and the light is best before 9 am or after 6 pm. Sault——[Overlooking the flower fields from the hills] 🌄 Sault is the "Lavender Capital". The town is on a mountain with a high terrain, overlooking the entire lavender field. It has rich layers and is very suitable for long-range aerial photography. 🍯 There are many small soap shops and honey shops in the town, which are good places to restock souvenirs If you have time, don't miss the observation deck in the town, which is a great angle to take pictures of the distant view. 🎉 There is a lavender festival on August 15th every year, with handicraft exhibitions, food markets, and music performances. Valensole——[The End of the Purple Ocean] 🌾 The largest and most spectacular lavender field, stretching endlessly, is especially suitable for shooting "portraits + lavender" blockbusters. 🌻 If you are lucky, you may come across the "purple + yellow" combination: lavender + sunflower! 📷 Recommended shooting time: After 5pm, backlit photos are the best with soft light and shadows 🚌【Transportation Guide】 🛣 Public transportation: The train + bus combination is more troublesome. There are some tourist lines in the peak season, but the frequency is limited. 🚗 Self-driving: Starting from Marseille, you can rent a car for 1.5-2 hours to reach various attractions. The route is flexible and it is convenient to stop and take photos at any time on the road. 👉Chartered car: suitable for friends who want to travel independently but don’t want to drive. Some Chinese drivers and guides also provide itinerary services. 📌 TIPS: Lavender fields are scattered, and it is convenient to stop and take photos by yourself. It is recommended to plan the route in advance. 👉【Itinerary】: 🌅Route 1 (starting from Marseille): Check in at the three most classic lavender resorts Provence Lavender Day | Sénanque Abbey + Sau + Valensole Route 🍽 At noon in Sault, we recommend ordering southern French country roast chicken and lavender-flavored desserts 🧡【Preparation before departure】： 👗 Dressing suggestions: White skirts or light-colored ones are the best for taking photos, and comfortable shoes are recommended. 🧴 Sun protection is essential (the sun in southern France is very strong), and a hat and sunglasses are also required. 🦟 There may be a lot of mosquitoes, so prepare mosquito repellent spray. 📷 Bring your camera + spare batteries. If you like aerial photography, remember to check the drone regulations. If you also yearn for the movie-like summer in Provence, don’t hesitate, add these three lavender holy places to your itinerary! Not only is it good for taking photos, but you can also feel the unique tranquility and romance of southern France💜

1. Purple: Many people travel to southern France in summer to see the dreamy purple lavender. Mid-June to early August is the best time to see lavender in Provence, especially in early to mid-July. Sault and Valensole are two iconic places to see lavender. The lavender in Sault blooms later due to the higher altitude, blooming in late June and still visible in August. The flowering period in Valensole is earlier, from mid-June to mid-July. The vast lavender fields here are ideal for taking beautiful lavender photos. 2. Blue: The blue of southern France comes not only from the Mediterranean Sea but also from the Verdon Gorge and Lake Sainte-Croix. Nice, Cannes, and Marseille are all well-known cities on the French Riviera. The Bay of Angels in Nice is named for its resemblance to angel wings. The calm and clear sea is a great place to spend the summer. Cannes is famous for its film festival and beautiful beaches. One side of the Promenade de la Croisette is a delicate sandy bay, and the other side is colorful hotels. 3. Yellow: The summer in southern France also has yellow sunflowers, which contrast with the purple lavender to form colorful pastoral paintings. 4. Colorful: The small towns in southern France, such as Antibes, are known for their perfect blend of architectural colors and sunlight. The whole town is full of artistic atmosphere and French romance. 5. White and dark blue: When it comes to southern French style, you can't miss the Breton Stripes, a knitted horizontal striped top in dark blue and white. This color combination has become a must-have for summer.

🇫🇷 In the South of France, Provence, this land kissed by the sun ☀️, is a dreamy destination for countless travelers ✈️. On a summer afternoon, take a stroll through the fields of blooming lavender 🪻, where the purple sea of flowers sways in the wind, as if you are in a fairy tale 🏰 world~ 【🟣 Provence】 A region in the south of France 🇫🇷, home to many beautiful towns 🌆 and villages 🏠. Lavender is the travel highlight of this area, and during the summer when the lavender blooms, the entire region is covered with a purple sea of flowers, and a grand Lavender Festival is also held. 🥰 Best travel season: June - August 🥰 Travel tips: Choose Marseille/Nice for airports, 🥰 Travel recommendations: Self-drive/Chartered travel 【🟣 Top Three Lavender Viewing Spots】 ✅ Sénanque Abbey An ancient abbey, also a classic spot for lavender fields. Every summer, the lavender in front of the abbey blooms, forming a purple ocean that complements the ancient abbey buildings. ⏰ Blooming period: Mid-June - Mid-July ✅ Valensole A location for many films and TV shows, with vast lavender fields and sunflower fields. The town also hosts a Lavender Festival every year. ⏰ Blooming period: Mid-June - End of July ✅ Sault The capital of lavender, the production center for indigenous European lavender. The terrain here is undulating, with a sea of flowers at the end and winding mountains, inside which are small villages surrounded by flower fields. ⏰ Blooming period: Mid-June - Mid-August 🌈 Recommended Tour Route ✅Day1. Paris - Montpellier ✅Day2. Montpellier - Saint-Tropez - Saint-Raphael - Frejus ✅Day3. Mandelieu - Monaco - Eze·French Riviera ✅Day4. Nice - Valensole - Vaucluse ✅Day5. Avignon - Paris