[en] Highlights: • We elucidate the electronic structure through the vanadium L_2_,_3 edge in LaVO_4 by XAS. • The interpretation of XAS spectrum was performed by the multiplet calculation. • Our results suggest that LaVO_4 can be considered in the charge transfer regime. - Abstract: Core-hole spectroscopy such as X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is useful to determine the electronic structure of strongly correlated and strongly hybridized compounds such as vanadates. Monazite-type LaVO_4 and perovskite-type LaVO_3 are good candidates to elucidate the electronic structure through the vanadium L_2_,_3 edge. LaVO_4 was prepared by sol-gel acrylamide polymerization and solid-state reaction. LaVO_3 was obtained by reduction of LaVO_4 using Zr as gatherer. Monoclinic crystal phase for LaVO_4 and orthorhombic crystal phase for LaVO_3 were confirmed by the Rietveld refinement of X-ray diffraction patterns. XAS comparison between Vanadium L_2_,_3 edge confirms the presence of V"5"+ for the monazite and V"3"+ for the orthorhombic perovskite. Multiplet calculations including crystal field and charge transfer effects (CTM) were performed in order to elucidate the tetragonal (D_4_h symmetry) parameters Dq, Ds and Dt, the charge transfer energy Δ, and d-d Coulomb repulsion energy U parameters. CTM confirms for LaVO_3 the strong V 3d–O 2p hybridization with a significant contribution of covalent character due to the delocalization of 3d electrons. For LaVO_4 this work suggest the reclassification of this band insulator as charge transfer insulator that shows a significant contribution of ionic character.