One of the many wonderful things about Provence is that it plays host to an array of different landscapes for such a relatively small area. The Garrique is a type of scrubland which is home to wild herbs such as thyme, rosemary and sage as well as lavender. In the summer there you see hundreds of fields completely covered in lavender. This is used to produce perfumes, soaps and bags of dried flowers that are popular items found on market stalls around Provence. The tradition of using the essence of lavender goes right back to when Roman housekeepers used lavender to make the linen smell fresh, as well as using it to fragrance the house and bath water. In the Caramarque you can find marshes where rice is growing and wild bulls roam.
In stark contrast there is Mont Ventoux which adds a white rocky texture to the surrounding landscape. Provence even has its own small scale Arizona in the form of the red Estérel hills. In the subsequent valleys you will find an assortment of vines, fruit and olive trees. There are also areas of Mediterranean oak and pine trees.
Provence offers so many dramatic landscapes that by the end of your visit you can feel like you have had several holidays in one.
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