Lavender Festival of Montbrun-les-Bains

Montbrun-les-Bains: Lavender in celebration in an exceptional village

Montbrun-les-Bains, a magnificent hilltop village classified among the Most Beautiful Villages of France, celebrates lavender every year during a festive day organized on the first weekend of September. Nestled in the heart of the Drôme provençale, between mountains and lavender fields, this thermal village offers a spectacular setting for this festival that perpetuates the region's lavender traditions.

A rich and family-friendly program

The Lavender Festival of Montbrun-les-Bains offers a full day of activities for all audiences. The program includes:

• Producers' and artisans' market with essential oils, soaps, honey, cosmetics, and local products
• Lavender distillation with a mobile still, allowing discovery of the essential oil production process
• Exhibition of old lavender equipment, a testament to local agricultural heritage
• Parade of old tractors and their tanks, a picturesque evocation of harvests of yesteryear

Shows and entertainment

The day is punctuated by spectacular and convivial moments:

• Equestrian dressage exhibition by the gardians
• Provençal scenes performed by local troupes
• Mini-farm and pony rides for children
• Exhibition of vintage cars and mopeds
• Book fair and artist fair

A thermal village with medieval charm

Montbrun-les-Bains captivates with its remarkable medieval architecture: houses cascading down the cliffside, ruins of the Dupuy-Montbrun castle, narrow streets, and shaded squares. The village is also renowned for its thermal baths, supplied by naturally hot and sulfurous springs. The Lavender Festival is part of a rich festive calendar, alongside the votive festival and summer markets.

Lavender, living heritage of the Drôme provençale

Lavender cultivation is at the heart of the identity of Montbrun-les-Bains and the entire Drôme provençale. Distilleries and producers in the region perpetuate age-old know-how, from manual harvesting to artisanal distillation. The festival is an opportunity to meet these passionate individuals and understand the challenges of the lavender sector, between tradition and innovation.