The plateau of Valensole stretches out before you, like a gigantic blue-and-white chess board made up of alternating lavender and wheat fields, whose pawns are bare almond trees. It is quite exquisite in March, when the almond trees are in blossom and in July, when the lavender is in full bloom. Their scent fills the streets of historic villages, such as Riez and St-Martin-de-Brômes.