Forest and Flavors of Autumn Festival

A festival at the heart of Haute-Marne's forest heritage

Created in 2021, the Forest and Flavors of Autumn Festival has established itself as a must-attend event of the late season in Haute-Marne. Organized at the Château du Grand Jardin, a Renaissance pavilion classified as a Historic Monument surrounded by four hectares of gardens labeled "Remarkable Garden," this event celebrates the forest, its resources, and the autumnal flavors of the Champagne region. For about ten days, young and old are invited to discover, taste, and share the riches of a territory where nature reigns supreme.

Haute-Marne truffle in the spotlight

A highlight of the festival, the Burgundy truffle (Tuber uncinatum) holds a prime place in the program. Visitors can attend truffle hunting demonstrations organized in partnership with ADT 52, where truffle dogs and their handlers reveal the secrets of harvesting this precious mushroom. Truffle cooking classes offer an introduction to the art of enhancing this exceptional product, while the producers' market offers fresh truffles, truffle products, and truffle plants for enthusiasts wishing to try their hand at growing them in their own gardens.

A market of local producers and artisans

The Autumn Flavors Market brings together producers and artisans from Haute-Marne and neighboring regions. You can find a selection of carefully chosen local products:

• Truffles and truffle products: fresh truffles, truffle oils, butters, and condiments
• Honeys and jams: forest honey, linden honey, and artisanal seasonal fruit jams
• Cheeses: cheese specialties from Champagne and Burgundy
• Charcuterie and terrines: farm products and game
• Wines and ciders: regional wines and artisanal beverages
• Mushrooms: porcini, chanterelles, and other seasonal mushrooms
• Nurserymen: truffle plants and forest species for the garden

Nature and cultural activities

Beyond the market, the festival offers a rich and varied program of activities that take place in the château, its gardens, and the intercommunal territory:

• Falconry demonstrations: bird of prey shows in free flight in the château gardens
• Hunting horn concerts: local horn associations immerse the audience in the atmosphere of ancient grand hunts
• Thematic conferences: presentations by specialists on forests, silviculture, forest ecology, and biodiversity
• Exhibitions: photographs, artworks, and natural history collections on the theme of the forest and the interaction between humans and nature
• Thematic guided tours: discovery of the château's architectural heritage, its Renaissance gardens, and Joinville's natural heritage
• Forest walks: guided hikes to discover forest species and local fauna

Activities for families

The festival pays special attention to the younger audience with activities designed specifically for children:

• Nature discovery workshops and mushroom identification
• Fun activities around tree trunks and wood
• Shows and performances by street artists
• Specialized nature and forest bookstore with signing sessions

An exceptional setting: the Château du Grand Jardin

The festival takes place in an exceptional heritage setting. The Château du Grand Jardin, built in the 16th century by Claude de Lorraine, Duke of Guise, is a jewel of Renaissance architecture in Champagne. Its four-hectare garden, composed of geometric parterres adorned with 139 boxwood topiaries and 56 shaped yews, as well as a 19th-century landscaped park, offers an ideal setting for autumnal activities, enhanced by the vibrant colors of the season.