A corso, from the Italian word corso ("course, parade") is a procession of floral floats taking place outdoors and generally marking the arrival of spring. In Dignes les Bains, the Corso of Lavender was first held in 1929.

The first event aimed to promote lavender production, the economic base of the Provence region. Interrupted by World War II, the Corso of Lavender returned in 1945 as a regular event. Today it is a great festival that takes place over five days between the end of July and the beginning of August. Access is free and open to all. Each year the event attracts tens of thousands of visitors.

The festival begins with a firework display over the river and is followed by four days of lavender-themed festivities: parades, marching bands, floats covered in the mauve flowers and a nightly ball in the main square of this spa town.

Every afternoon, scores of stalls sell lavender and lavandin (its more photogenic hybrid variant) products. Digne’s lavender festival parade has been running since the second world war. Even older is the lavender fair, which takes place at the end of August, once the harvest is in. 

Light the fire under a huge copper still in the centre of the town and celebrate with lavender liqueur, lavender biscuits, syrup, nosegays and lavender paté. 

According to www.france-voyage.com & theguardian.com