A little piece of the region of La Alcarria, in Guadalajara, is dyed purple for a month and only once a year. This moment coincides with the flowering of the lavender fields of Brihuega, the locality that hosts an extension of more than a thousand flowered hectares of such beauty that it has been nicknamed as the Spanish Provence.
This purple paradise of lavender and lavandin (the hybridization of lavender and lavender) is only 100 kilometers from Madrid or, in other words, an hour and a half’s drive away. Every summer, the scent of lavender floods the fields and the peculiar color of the flowers gives rise to an unforgettable stamp.
Lavender cultivation is dedicated to the production of perfumes, and the first flowers began to sprout in the 1960s thanks to Álvaro Mayoral, a teacher in the village who planted some cuttings after spending his summer vacations in France. Later, Emilio Valeros, acclaimed perfumer at Loewe, turned the fields into a special place for lavender extraction.
how and when to visit the lavender fields of Brihuega?
The ideal time to visit the Brihuega fields usually coincides with the first half of July, when the flowers reach their peak of flowering. However, the second half of the month also allows you to enjoy the floral stamp until the time of mowing, which occurs in late July or early August, when the flower takes on a grayish tone.
The lavender fields of Brihuega can be visited independently or with guided tours, and can be consulted at this link how to get there. Guided tours take place on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. and are priced at €3. To attend it is necessary to reserve a place in advance:
- By mail: turismo@aytobrihuega.com
- By telephone: 949280442, 949340030
Lavender Blossom Program 2024
On the occasion of the flowering season, there is also a celebration of what is known as the Lavender Festival with its traditional double concert at sunset. This summer will be performed by Maldita Nerea (July 12) and Rozalén (July 13) at 20:45h.
Brihuega turns every year to this celebration and there is a whole Program of activities that revolve around the flowering of lavender: olfactory workshops, guided tours of a distillery, demonstrations, a concert of old music and even in previous editions there has been a Lavender Market .
On the other hand, the City Council recommends taking advantage of the trip to also visit the town: “We have many nooks and crannies you’ll love to see and the sightseeing is well worth it, plus we decorate balconies and shop windows with lavendermotifs !“.