Quick Info
On the morning of July 1, 1965, lavender farmer Maurice Masse was working in his field near Valensole, France, when he saw a strange object land. Two small humanoid beings stepped out and one pointed a device at him, paralyzing him completely. When they left, they left behind a clear physical trace that scientists later studied.
Maurice was a respected local man with no interest in UFOs. His detailed and consistent account, combined with physical evidence, makes the Valensole incident one of the most important close encounters in European UFO history.
A Normal Morning in Provence
Maurice Masse was 41 years old and had lived in Valensole his whole life. He grew lavender and tended his fields just like his father and grandfather before him. On that warm July morning, he was out early, checking his plants, when something completely out of the ordinary caught his attention.
The Object Lands
Maurice heard a sharp whistling sound and looked up to see an egg-shaped object descending silently. It was about the size of a small car, metallic, and glowed with a soft light. The craft settled gently on four legs in his lavender field, crushing some of the plants beneath it.
The Two Small Beings
Two small humanoid figures stepped out from the craft. They were about 4 feet tall, had large heads, and wore tight-fitting suits. Their skin was pale grayish and they had large, almond-shaped eyes. One of them held a small tube-like device.
“They were not human. Their heads were much larger than ours and their eyes were very big.”
— Maurice Masse
Maurice started walking toward them to get a better look. The being with the device pointed it at him and he suddenly felt completely paralyzed. He couldn’t move or speak, but he remained fully conscious.
The Conversation
While he was frozen in place, Maurice felt the beings communicating with him. He later said the communication was not through words but through thoughts or images. They seemed curious about him and the lavender plants. After a few minutes, they turned and went back inside the craft.
“I felt they were telling me not to be afraid and that they meant no harm.”
— Maurice Masse
The craft then rose silently into the air, hovered for a moment, and shot off at incredible speed.
The Physical Trace
When Maurice could finally move again, he walked over to where the craft had landed. He found a clear circular depression in the ground about 10 feet wide. The lavender plants inside the circle were crushed and the soil looked different. The trace remained visible for years and was later studied by French scientists.
Timeline of the Valensole Incident
- July 1, 1965 – Early morning – Maurice Masse is working in his lavender field near Valensole.
- The landing – A small egg-shaped craft descends and lands in the field.
- The beings appear – Two small humanoids exit the craft and one paralyzes Maurice with a device.
- The encounter – The beings communicate with him telepathically before returning to the craft.
- Departure – The object rises silently and flies away at high speed.
- Aftermath – A clear circular landing trace remains and is studied by investigators.
Investigation and Legacy
The case was investigated by French authorities and ufologists, including Jacques Vallée. Soil samples showed unusual changes and the lavender plants inside the ring grew more vigorously for years afterward. Maurice Masse remained consistent in his account for the rest of his life and never tried to profit from the story.
Short video on this event from @EyesOnCinema on YouTube
Features the GOAT Jacques Vallée!
More videos from @EyesOnCinema on YouTube
Why This Case Still Matters
The Valensole incident is considered one of the most important close encounters in Europe because of the clear physical trace, the credibility of the witness, and the detailed description Maurice provided. It happened at a time when very few people were talking about UFO landings, making it an early and significant case in UFO history.
What Do You Think?
After reading Maurice Masse’s account, what’s your reaction? Do you think he really encountered a landed craft and two small beings, or could there be another explanation? If the beings were real, what do you think they were doing in his lavender field? This is one of the classic European landing cases, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
