Hvar is famous for many things: as the sunniest island in Croatia, for the heady scent of its wines, its crystal-clear sea, superb cuisine, countless vineyards overlooking the water, its most beautiful coves, and Stari Grad — the oldest town in Croatia. Around the world, though, it is probably best known by its nickname: the Lavender Island.
If you want to experience Hvar in full lavender bloom, you need to be here in June. At that time Hvar is perhaps the most beautiful place on earth.
The lavender harvest
By early July the harvest is already under way, and within just two weeks most of the blossoms disappear beneath the pickers' scythes.
Harvesting lavender is hard, exhausting work carried out during the hot July days. The pickers often reach the fields before sunrise, so they can cut as much as possible in the cooler morning hours. Everything is done by hand, frequently on steep, hilly terrain between old dry-stone walls. Bent over the bushes, the pickers cut the stems with small hand scythes while the cicadas sing at full volume, and load the flowers into sacks. Over the following days, modern technology turns the blossoms into golden, intensely fragrant lavender oil.
Velo Grablje – the village of millionaires
The whole story of Hvar's lavender revolves around the stone village of Velo Grablje, where it all began around 1920. Large lavender fields can also be found around Stari Grad, Jelsa and Gdinj.
In the best years, lavender was a source of wealth for many families. Velo Grablje was even nicknamed the "village of millionaires", and it is said that half of the houses built in the town of Hvar were paid for with profits from lavender oil.
Lavender today
The plant is still treasured on Hvar today. Every July, Velo Grablje hosts a three-day Lavender Festival. Lavender is now used to make soaps, cosmetics, scented sachets and many other products — beautifully fragrant souvenirs. While on Hvar, don't miss trying how wonderful sparkling wine tastes with lavender syrup, or treat yourself to a cake with lavender icing.
The number of lavender fields on the island is now far lower than 50 years ago, back in the 1970s. This was caused by a series of large wildfires, driven mainly by the growth of tourism, and replanting the burnt fields no longer pays off for their owners.
Our tip
There are many little shops and stalls across the island selling lavender products. We would warmly recommend a visit to the exceptional botanical garden of the Čurin family — true experts — in the village of Gdinj. There you can buy plenty of original gifts and, at the same time, get to know all the main medicinal plants of Hvar island.