Musee de la lavande

Our visit to the Lavender Museum

When my husband sent me a link to an article about the Lavender Museum a few days before our holiday, it was at the right time. I was just looking for a place where we could stop on our way back from the holiday and divide the long journey. So not that the French motorway rest areas were bad (on the contrary, sometimes you can also find a playground here), but the Lavender Museum was simply a bigger attraction!

Getting there

If you are driving along the A7 motorway from Marseille, take exit 25 (Cavaillon). From here, it is less than 20 km to Coustellet.

Admission

Ticket for adults is 6,8 euros, children under 15 accompanied by parents have free admission. Together with the ticket, you will get an audio guide (available in 10 languages) and a voucher for a 20% discount in the nearby lavender shop.

When you buy your tickets, children are given a quiz including 20 questions (they can find answers to the questions from the audio guide, or when they turn the question sheet upside down 🙂 ).

Lavender or lavandine?

Right at the beginning, even before we entered the museum area, we were told by the guide that the true lavender (lavande fine) only grows at altitudes above 800m and has only one stalk. On the other hand, the hybrid called “lavandine”, which we see as a floral decoration in towns, has two twigs on the stem. It smells more intense and has a higher “yield” – you get 1 liter of essence from 40 kg of the plant. Lavandine is therefore used in the chemical industry to produce “fragrances” in fabric softeners, detergents, refreshers etc.

Musee de la lavande Coustellet, France

On the contrary, you need 130kg of the true lavender to get one liter of lavender essence and is used for perfume production, high-quality cosmetics, and especially in the medical industry. Lavender is a cure for everything, but judge for yourself: insomnia, irritability and stress (because it soothes), cuts, burns or eczema (because it disinfects and heals), colds and sore throats (lavender fights infection and parasites) and has a beneficial effect against cramps and rheumatism (it relaxes and relieves pain).

Tour

Then we entered the projection room where we watched a commented film from which we learned more interesting information about lavender growing, harvesting and further processing.

Musee de la lavande Coustellet

Inside the museum, we could admire a collection of steam distillation apparatuses.

Musee de la lavande Coustellet

Musee de la lavande Coustellet

But there were also bottles for lavender essences, perfume flacons, a collection of historical labels, or traditional costumes and tools. Just by the way, if you want to know how the lavender was grown in Provence in the last century, I recommend the novel “The Lantern” by Deborah Lawrenson.

Musée de la lavande

Musée de la lavande

Musée de la lavande

Musée de la lavande

The children could join the competition for the most beautiful picture of the month.

Musée de la lavande Cousetellet

Shop

As soon as you walk through the doorway from the museum to the Le Château du Bois products shop, you will be immediately “in care” of sales assistants and once again they will tell you that lavender is practically a panacea. Of course, they will offer you different products for different ailments.

Since you have a discount card in your hand that you have previously received at the cash desk, it is hard to resist and not buy at least a fragrant cushion or scented soap.

Picnic area

After visiting the museum, you can have a picnic under the shed before setting off further journey (you will find a coffee machine and snacks machine here).

Musée de la lavande

My impressions

It´s pretty pleasant to make a stop in the Lavender Museum, but during my future holiday in France, I´d love to the fields of true lavender.

Learn about the iconic plant of the Provence region in France

 

Categories: France, Travel
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Author

Hana Hurábová

10 Comments. Leave new

  • Ohh I didnt know about there were two sort of lavander. Now I will problably check when I pass by any just to see if its a true lavander or not. Visiting a lavander field is still on my list. We almost went there this august on a higher altitude but its to far for this time.

    Reply
    • That´s exactly what I´m doing with our sons during our walks – I all the time ask them: “Is it lavender or lavandine?” 😀

      Reply
  • This looks like a great museum and quite interesting as well! My parents live in South of France and I was always used to being in the middle of lavander fileds, which are truly gorgeous! This is one of the things I miss from where I grew up. I remember making dried lavender bouquets with ederly people from my village.

    Cathy, newborn photographer

    Reply
    • Lucky you! Can you recommend any non-touristy lavender field where to stop during our next French holiday?

      Reply
  • Did you pick up any lavender perfume or scented soap at the Retail Shop, at least?

    Reply
    • Of course I did. The scented soap is now in my closet 🙂 And we also picked up a healing balm for my husband´s grandma – it´s been working great to relieve pain!

      Reply
  • […] learn about growing, harvesting and further processing of the iconic plant of Provence. Read here about our visit […]

    Reply
  • I can imagine how lovely it smells in there! Lavender is one of my favorite scents. I’d love to visit lavender fields some day in France. They look and sounds incredible. Thanks for sharing your experience!

    Reply
  • Looks like a lovely place to visit! They seem to have preserved many old tools.
    I have all the symptoms that could be helped with lavender – if only I liked the smell!!! It causes me a headache.
    lavender vs lavandine, I had no idea, thanks for educating me!

    Reply

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