Between Courtyards and Gardens

Program published by the Entre Cours & Jardins association (brochure "Plant and Garden Art Festival", Cité Plantagenêt). Saturday, October 10th and Sunday, October 11th, 2026. Unless otherwise stated, each activity takes place on both days. The "bracelet" icon indicates activities for which the festival wristband is mandatory.

Square Robert Triger (rue Robert Triger)

• 10 am–6 pm — "Small creatures of the river and pond" (new activity hub), Arche de la Nature: amphibian (Amphicapts) and water quality (IBGN) surveys. Ages 4+ · duration 15 min
• 9 am–11 am and 2 pm–4 pm — "Water Bar": mystery tasting of spring, mineral, and tap water, Waste Management and Urban Cleanliness Department – Le Mans Métropole
• 10 am–6 pm — "Composting", Waste Management and Urban Cleanliness Department – Le Mans Métropole
• 10 am–6 pm — Dynamic games "Water, climate and biodiversity": Eau'Dyssée and Climate Fresk. Wristband required · ages 12+
• 10 am–6 pm — "The pleasure of water in art therapy", Le Cabinet de curiosité: creative and therapeutic exercises. Wristband required · ages 8+ · duration 30 min

Salle Saint-Jean (3, rue de la Reine Bérengère)

• 10 am–6 pm — "Along the water", Passion&Mans and Mercerie d'Emi: introductions to knitting, crochet, and weaving. Wristband required · ages 8+ · duration 30 min
• 11 am, 3 pm and 5 pm — "A pretty flower to wear", Marie Janvier: making a fabric brooch inspired by marsh marigolds. Wristband required · adults · duration 1h · registration required at 06 34 22 42 22 or [email protected]
• 10 am–12 pm and 2 pm–5 pm — "Collaborative Mosaic", Les Prairies des Vermeils and La Haute Couleur, for the Jardin des simples. Wristband required · ages 4+
• 10 am–12 pm and 2 pm–5 pm — Face painting, Créa Jess. Wristband required

Promenade Saint-Hilaire (rue Saint-Hilaire) — book-themed activities

• 10 am–12 pm and 2 pm–6 pm — "Let yourself be told a story", Lire et Faire Lire. Ages 3+
• Saturday 10:30 am and 3 pm, Sunday 10:30 am — "Story bag" and "Origami boats" · duration 45 min
• Sunday 2 pm–6 pm — "Games and reading" meeting with Youna and Léa, creators of Bouquins Bavards
• 10 am–6 pm — Léon Art & Stories: readings, paper crafts, games, drawings
• 10 am–6 pm — Farm animals, L'Entente avicole sarthoise: rabbits, Silkie chickens, Pekin chickens

MJC Prévert (97, Grande Rue)

• 10 am, 11:30 am, 2 pm, 3:30 pm and 5 pm — "Along the water", CPFI – Musiques du monde: a journey along the Niger, West African instruments including water drums. Wristband required · ages 10+ · duration 45 min · in the courtyard
• 10 am, 11:30 am, 2 pm, 3:30 pm and 5 pm — "The travel trunk in French Polynesia", CPFI – Musiques du monde. Wristband required · up to 10 years old · duration 45 min · dance studio, 1st floor · subject to availability
• 10 am–6 pm — "The alchemy of botany: water and plants", Sauvages de saison: tasting refreshing drinks made from water and wild plants. Wristband required · ages 6+ · in the courtyard
• 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 2:30 pm, 3:30 pm and 4:30 pm — "The extraordinary powers of water in cooking", Les Cours de Pimprenelle: making and tasting a red bean tartare. Wristband required · adults · Inventaire room (on the left when entering) · subject to availability
• 10 am–6 pm — Exhibition "Of plants and water", Galerie L'Éphémère: paintings and creations by François Bedouet, Laurence Gossart, Johannes Zacherl, Nicole Anquetil and other artists. Wristband required · 1st-floor hall. Other works are visible at 59, Grande Rue and in the courtyard of rue Saint-Pavin

Maison Scarron (1, place Saint-Michel)

• 2 pm and 4:30 pm — "Wicker fish", Atelier Brin d'Osier. Wristband required · ages 6+ · duration 30 min · Aumônerie room (1st floor) · registration by SMS only at 06 64 23 20 93
• 11 am — "Water drop", Atelier Brin d'Osier: garden decoration. Wristband required · adults · duration 1h · Aumônerie room (1st floor) · registration by SMS only at 06 64 23 20 93

Esplanade du Bicentenaire (rue de la Verrerie)

• 10 am–6 pm — "The tree and water", Les Croqueurs de pommes: presentation on how a tree works · duration 15 min
• 10 am–6 pm — "The world of bees", Beelinked: populated hive, Asian hornet nest, honey tasting, beeswax candle, new "Beekeeping mugshots" feature · duration 15 min
• 10 am–7 pm — Exhibition "In the world of a water drop", Brigitte Cachan · under the Porch

At the Officialité (end of the allée Basile Moreau)

• 10 am, 2 pm and 5 pm — "Textile painting introduction", Marion Peeters: cushion on the theme of aquatic plants, materials provided. Wristband required · ages 8+ · duration 1h · Officialité room · registration at 06 28 32 55 04 or [email protected]

With Cité Plantagenêt merchants

• Saturday 10 am and 5 pm, Sunday 10 am and 2 pm — "Kokedama", Un atelier au 22 (22, rue des Chanoines): moss ball plants. Ages 10+ · €20 (€17 with wristband) · registration at 06 17 76 01 41 or [email protected]
• 11 am–5 pm — "What if your inner water could speak?", Passion Minéraux (10, rue Dorée): BioWell imaging and stone selection. Ages 10+

Visits

• 10 am, 11:30 am and 1:30 pm — Secret gardens "You, your gaze, and me": sensory tour for visually impaired people, guided by association volunteers (trained by Eclipse and Visuellemans). Wristband required · duration 1h30 · mandatory registration by SMS to Kika at 06 18 16 60 44 before Monday, October 5th, 2026
• 11 am and 3 pm (LSF translation) — "Fountains in the Cité Plantagenêt", Pascal Mariette. Wristband required · duration 1h · departure in front of the menhir (place Saint-Michel) · mandatory registration by SMS at 07 86 11 00 68
• 3 pm — "Stroll through the scents in the Cité Plantagenêt": guided olfactory garden tour · duration 2h · departure Maison du Pilier-Rouge · registration at 02 43 47 40 30
• 10 am and 11 am (LSF translation) — "The Roman baths" · duration 45 min · meet in front of the baths · registration at Maison du Pilier-Rouge, 02 43 47 40 30
• 2 pm–6 pm — Self-guided tour of the Roman baths
• Saturday 2 pm, 3:15 pm and 4:30 pm — "Boat on the water, the river, the river..." in partnership with Cenovia and Pays du Mans: heritage of the Sarthe riverbanks, from the port of Le Mans to the Sarthe-Huisne confluence. Ages 10+ · duration 45 min · departure from the port · registration at Maison du Pilier-Rouge, 02 43 47 40 30 · subject to weather conditions
• 2 pm and 4 pm — "Glass flower": reading a stained-glass window followed by a creation. Ages 7+ · duration 1h30 · courtyard of 10, rue Saint-Flaceau, meet on site · registration at Maison du Pilier-Rouge, 02 43 47 40 30
• Continuous — Treasure hunt "Garden stopovers" (ages 8+) : booklet available at the Maison du Pilier-Rouge

Shows and concerts

• 3 pm — "Cristale – the journey of a water drop", Cie Les Acteurs en herbe. Wristband required · ages 3+ · Maison des Compagnons du Devoir, dining room (114, Grande Rue) · subject to availability
• Saturday and Sunday — Strolling performances "Dame Nature and her flower women", Compagnie Acta Fabula
• Saturday 8:30 pm — "Jazz Duo" (in partnership with Acthalia): Aristide d'Agostino (trumpet) and Olivier Leveau (piano), from New Orleans to Post Bop
• Sunday 4 pm — "Homage to nature" (in partnership with Acthalia): piano recital by Jean Dubé, pieces inspired by trees, birds, and water · chapelle de l'Oratoire (lycée Montesquieu) · €18 / €15 with wristband / €10 for children up to 10 years old · tickets on the Acthalia website, at the tourist office, and on site
• Throughout the stroll — guitar students from the Le Mans Conservatory, inclusive choir from the Cabinet de Curiosité L'Odyssée, brass ensemble from the Le Mans Municipal Music, vocal group Jazzalâme, accordion duo Ghislaine and Fabrice, painters from Artistes au jardin

Children participating in activities and tours must be accompanied by an adult wearing a wristband. Association contact: 06 52 08 07 12, [email protected].