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Lavender-Mistral

Lavender en mistral  in Provence 

The name "lavande" (lavender) originates from the Latin verb "lavare", because the plant was used as "bath perfume "in Antiquity. The culture of lavender started only at the end of the 19th century in Provence. There are about 25 different species but we know mainly the "Lavandula vera" and later the "Lavandula spica". In both cases the flowers are purplish blue. Except the fact that lavender is used principally in the perfume industry, its is an antiseptic, anti-rheumatic and al lot of good things more. It is used also in soap and cosmetics and to take away the stench of certain products. And what about lavender honey? Delicious and let's thank the bees who love to manufacture it for us.

But to all good things comes an end. After the golden age of lavender between the 50's and 60's, more and more synthetic essences were produced.  And if Grasse continues to manufacture two thirds of French production, flowers disappear more and more from the hills to be replaced by comestible plants. The lavender fields you can still find in Provence lots their main economic significance. Don't look for it in the Bouches-du-Rhone  but mainly in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, especially on the plateau de Valensole. Also the Luberon has some nice fields southeast of Apt. Lavender blooms in August. It's worth to brave the heat to admire the original ones.

The word "mistral" is a corruption of the word "maitre". The feared and famous Northeast storm wind, rules over the Provence since centuries. It is caused by a high pressure area in the Massif Central and a low pressure area in the gulf of Genoa. These differences create an ice cold wind in the mountains  that race in full speed downward to the Mediterranean through the valley of the Rhone.  Around Valence the strength of the wind increases and it's from that moment that it is called "mistral" It's between Valence and Orange that the highest speeds are reached. nobody could  explain why. You can easily recognise landscapes ravaged by the mistral: high cypresses and straw hedges like Van Gogh used to paint them. The houses have a minimum of openings at the south side. Traditionally the mistral blows most in February, March and April and less in July and August. Very dangerous for bush and forest fires! It is said that this wind can drive people crazy, since it can last for several days, but it is sure that after three days it causes headaches.

There are other winds in Provence, 32 names were given by the Provencals to their different winds!! The "tramontane" right from the north and after the first snow in the Hautes-Alpes. The only wind bringing rain comes from the west. Believe it or not but there is as much rainfall in the Provence yearly as in Brest, Brtittany!! despite the landscape seems to deny it. But the rain falls three times harder in Provence  and there are three time less rainy days than in other France regions. That's why the Provence sky can be so clear so many times.

A few figures: 3000 hours of sunshine along the coast of Narbonne, in the Camargue and the coast between Toulon and Saint-Raphael. The region between Salon and Aix  and between Apt and Digne have mostly the same amount of sunny days.

"Some of my figures and historical references are to find in the excellent book "Lavandes et Plantes aromatiques"  published by a team of ecologists and commercialised by Edisud, Aix-en-Provence.