July and August when lavender blossom is at its peak is the best time to explore the Lavender fields of Spain. For me way down in the south of Spain it means I don’t have to go all the way to Provence to see lavender fields in bloom, there are several options not too far away. There are a few lavender plantations spread around the country where we can see this pretty and rare crop and to experience the scent and colour from dawn to dusk.
The lavender fields can of course be visited at any time of year, but seeing them in their full colours is really a sight to be seen.
Below some of the the places where you can visit them in Spain, along with a little information about some of the festivals and activities that have grown up around them.
Brihuega Lavender Fields in Guadalajara
The fields of Brihuega in Guadalajara are the most famous. Just do an Instagram search on the location and you´ll see that there have been more than 50,000 photos uploaded and the majority of those are of its lilac fields. It´s this mass of purple that has has given it the nickname of the garden of the Alcarria.
The floweringof the lavender is an eagerly awaited event for the locals, who witness people from all over the world arriving for its harvest and famous Lavender Festival. There are concerts, workshops and gastronomy where this plant is included as an ingredient, as well as guided tours of the fields.
Since 2015 the month of July in Brihuega sees the magnificent flowering of row after row of lavender and it fills the air with its scent. The Festival de la Lavanda, which has open air concerts between the rows of flowers, is celebrated in honour of the new harvest and the attendees dress in white making a spectacular mix of white and lilac as music is played at sunset.
Recent editions have seen the presence of prestigious chefs such as the 2 Michelin star chef Dani Garcia.
El Romeral Lavender Fields in Toledo
Lavanda en Flor or Lavender in Flower is a field in El Romeral in Toledo. The owners Manuel Escudero and Teo Rojo decided to plant the Lavandula Hybrida variety of lavender on their land in Castilla-La Mancha after visiting Provence. Since then, three generations have come together to pursue their passion of recovering heritage and promoting development in their home village.
Along with guided tours they offer the possibility of stargazing from the fields at night and tasting natural, local lavender flower honey in the countryside around 80 kilometres from Madrid.
The region of Castilla-La Mancha is the area of Spain with the most hectares cultivated in Spain, it has around 60% of Spain´s lavender fields.
Tiendra Lavender Fields in Valladolid
A little further north in the region of Castilla y León it´s also possible to catch the scent of lavender in the air. Head to Tiedra in Valladolid to see the colourful fields of lilac and the first Centro de Interpretación de la Lavanda in Spain. This is the place to learn about its history, how it´s grown and the different varieties and benefits of the plant.
There´s also a distillery where the essential oils are extracted and a shop for dried lavender flowers, soaps, oils and crafts.
San Felices Lavender Fields in Soria
In neighbouring Soria we find the lavender fields of San Felices which lift the spirits seeing fields of lilac between areas of golden crops. During the month of July the town of San Felices beckons travellers to see its splendour. Stay in Hotel Las Badías which offers guided tours of the lavender fields.
Olite Lavender Fields in Navarra
A little further north but still in Castilla y León the lavender fields of Olite when seen with its imposing medieval castle is quite a sight. The surrounding landscape of vineyards and cereals become more colourful every summer when the lilac colour bursts forth.
This third generation family business also has a factory where they make various products from lavender and have a steam distiller for the production of essential oils.
Moratalla Lavender Fields in Murcia
The cultivation of lavender is also found in Moratalla, down south in Murcia province. In the small towns of Campo de San Juan and Béjar the plantations are found among caves, shelters and remains of cave art, this is an area declared Intangible Heritage of Humanity by Unesco. The tourist board – Turismo del Segura offer guided tours to see the harvesting of the plants, a walk through the fields and the possibility of purchasing their products.
Enjoy the lavender fields in Spain!