In this work a microwave assisted hydrothermal method is applied to successfully synthesize lanthanum doped bismuth ferrites (BLFO, Bi1-xLaxFeO3 where x = 0, 0.15, 0.30 and 0.45). The growth mechanism of the Bi1-xLaxFeO3 crystallites is discussed in detail. The existence of the single-phase perovskite structure for all the doped samples is confirmed by the X-ray powder diffraction patterns. A peak shift, observed at lower angle with increasing La doping concentration, indicates that the BiFeO3 lattice is doped. The results of TG/DTA show a shift in the transition temperature from 805 degrees C to 815 degrees C as function of the La-doping for all the doped powders. At higher levels of La doping, i.e. x = 0.30 and 0.45, significant weight losses occur above 860 degrees C suggesting a change in the physical and chemical properties. Finally, magnetic measurements are carried out at room temperature for pure BiFeO3 and Bi0,83La0.15FeO3. The results indicate that the materials are both weakly ferromagnetic, with no significant hysteresis in the curves. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.