Montelimar (26 Drome, Rhone-Alpes) may be best known for its nougat, but every July it binges on Lavender with its Colours of Lavender Festival "Montélimar Couleur Lavande" - from 21-22 July 2007.
The fifth edition of this Festival of Lavender and market of local flavours and lavender scents : a whole range of "lavender-based" products! Distilling of both lavender and hybrid lavender will be carried out the traditional way and a procession of floral floats will enliven the Sunday morning on the 22nd of July. New! A real artist's studio profiled against a virtual field of lavender. The biggest lavender party ever! (40.000 visitors)
Montelimar tends to be another of those places which you bypass on the autoroute heading north or south (just off the A7 between Orange and Valence) and it does not immediately tempt you to visit. However, there are a number of interesting events such as the Lavender Festival throughout the year - including the Garden Festival (Montelimar Cote Jardin) on 17 May 07 - with a particular focus on the local olives and olive oil from Nyons (26 Drome, Rhône-Alpes) and on the weekend of 28-29 April 2007 the Pottery Festival (Montélimar Terra Potiers) - so maybe it would be worth a little detour.
For more info see www.montelimar-tourisme.com
For a wealth of lavender in the UK - see woldswaylavender.co.uk
