Let me tell you the story behind my photo on the main page. A dream of every travel girl – a photoshoot in the lavender fields. The preparation for it is as exciting as the process itself: choosing a dress that will nicely match the lavender, thinking of accessories and stuff.
There are several destinations for lavender fields. Provence in France is of course the most famous one. Though at the moment the main production country of lavender is Bulgaria. France takes the second place. But my photos were taken not in France nor in Bulgaria. It is a Turkish region called Isparta and while Turkey can’t be called a large lavender manufacturer, it absolutely deserves your attention.
Isparta is a city in western Turkey at the western end of the Taurus Mountains. Before 1203 it was a part of the Byzantine Empire and some of the artefacts of those times can be found in Isparta museum which is located in the city center.
Interesting but lavender is actually not the main flower of this region. One of the main economic activities of Isparta is the production of rosewater. And the same museum displays some instruments for distillation of attar of roses. But you don’t even have to plan a visit to the museum to understand which flower is the real queen of this city and region. The streets of Isparta are beautifully decorated with rose sculptures and rose-beds.
Unfortunately, I haven’t visited the beautiful rose fields of Isparta but I’m sure they are worth stopping by. So, if you are looking for an alternative to French lavender fields or just love flowers, consider visiting the beautiful city of Isparta.
