Discovering edible wild plants

Woodruff, nettle, berries and coltsfoot… As musical as they are mysterious, these names designate just some of the wild plants bedecking the countryside of the South of France. Discover their powerful and often-unknown properties during your stay with a delightful walk or culinary workshop.

History and little secrets of wild plants

Plants, our everyday allies

Edible wild plants have been the allies of the inhabitants of the Luberon area from time immemorial. Slip into your hiking shoes and head out on the specialist-interest trail, where you’ll learn all about past and present wild plant picking traditions around the Pays de Forcalquier and Lure mountain. Not to be missed too: the botanical walks at Les Graves, Abbaye Notre-Dame-de-Lure and Les Crêtes de Lure. And if you’re in the Préalpes d’Azur Regional Nature Reserve, book a guided tour with Isabelle Weber – a fabulous opportunity to learn how to recognize various medicinal and edible wild plants and get to know their natural properties and countless uses in everyday life. Please remember to only pick a small amount to preserve our environment.

Life-size discoveries

A selection of walks for curious minds

Revel in the welcome shade, tranquillity and freedom of the “Sentiers de l’Abondance” walks in the beautiful Alpilles, home to many medicinal plants. You can opt for a guided tour of this magnificent, 7.5-acre site in Eygalières. On the Mediterranean coast, Domaine de la Palissade welcomes you for a stroll through Camargue, crossing wetlands, reed beds, saltmarshes and lagoons. Camargue is also criss-crossed with hiking trails, ideal for discovering the local birds and plant life. If you’re seeking an in-depth experience, you’ll find plenty of experienced nature guides offering fascinating insights into edible wild plants. Take to the heights and embark on a 7-hour adventure with all the family in Ecrins National Park, home to the gorgeous hilltop village of La Dormillouse, where you’ll be able to pierce the hidden secrets of Southern Alps edible plants. Don’t forget to take a break during your hike to savour your delicious picnic lunch with wild herbs….

Colourful walks in sublime scenery

An ode to the senses

White flowers and red berries adorn the dry garrigue when Spring comes around on the Mediterranean coast. This guided walk in the Calanques de Marseille fjords is a genuine paradise for botany fans. Keep your eyes peeled for arbutus trees, otherwise known as strawberry trees. Porquerolles island is also home to a rich agricultural legacy. Treat yourself to a relaxing stroll through the orchards of the “Conservatoire Botanique National Méditerranéen” (National Mediterranean Botanical Conservatory) in the company of their little leaflet on edible plants – a truly delightful escapade in the protected scenery of Port-Cros National Park. Did you know that lavender is one of our edible wild plants? If you’re near Les Baronnies, book a night at the Gîte d’Orpierre and follow in the knowledgeable footsteps of the Ravel family as they lead you through sweet-scented lavender fields… Opt for an essential oil, edible flowers or a cordial – there’s a lavender product for every taste.

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Gourmet walks and workshops

From the soil to the plate

Located in Brantes, at the foot of Mont Ventoux, Les Aventurières du Goût is an ode to the pleasures of good food. After a hike in the virgin countryside of the Regional Nature Reserve, it’s time for a cookery class with edible wild plants, where you’ll learn how to prepare delicious dishes while nurturing the environment. You’ll find something for everyone at Domaine de Valx too: this farm situated in the Verdon Regional Nature Reserve flies the flag of the reserve’s educational vocation with various workshops extolling the virtues of plants growing in the local hills. The farm is also home to several goat breeders and cheesemakers. You’ll love learning how to make your own cordial or mouth-watering jam with aromatic plants in the company of Elodie. Want to impress your friends back home? Simply sign up for her edible wild plant workshop!

Leave it to the experts

Our favourite guided tours

An expert on regional botany, Alain Creton hosts guided tours in Mercantour National Park, where you’ll learn everything (or nearly everything) there is to know about edible and medicinal wild plants. Prolong the pleasure with Alain’s superb botany book. Fancy exploring the Sainte-Baume hills? Vincent Blondel offers two tours stamped with the “Valeurs Parc Naturel Régional” quality label, including “Provencal flowers and how to use them”. Fascinating! Next it’s time to stock up on gourmet ideas with an edible wild plant cookery class at Domaine de Montrieux-le-Vieux. A definite must for foodies. Nicolas Crunchant knows the Queyras area and edible plants of the Southern Alps like the back of his hand. Enjoy following in his footsteps on a magnificent botanical trail as you lap up Nicolas’ tips, tricks and anecdotes on mountain plants. The panoramic vistas over the neighbouring Italian mountain ranges are simply mesmerizing too…