Festival des Jardins Alpestres
The art of ephemeral gardens at the foot of the Alps
About Jardins Alpestres
Created in 2018 by the City of Albertville, the Festival des Jardins Alpestres is a unique event of its kind in the French Alps, dedicated to the art of ephemeral gardening in a mountain environment. Every year, from May to September, the Albertville gardens esplanade is transformed into a true open-air plant museum, where professional landscapers, landscape design students, and artists create ephemeral gardens around a theme renewed each year. This unifying festival is for all audiences – nature lovers, landscape professionals, families, schoolchildren – and is a powerful tool for raising awareness of the Alpine environment and plant biodiversity.
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The Festival des Jardins Alpestres: a plant laboratory in the heart of Tarentaise
Since its creation in 2018, the Festival des Jardins Alpestres has established itself as a flagship event in the cultural and environmental life of Albertville. Born from the municipality's desire to showcase the Alpine plant landscape in all its forms, between nature and culture, this original festival annually features a competition for the creation of ephemeral gardens on the gardens esplanade, right in the city center.
The gardens, created by teams of professional landscapers, landscape design students, and artists, are designed around a different theme for each edition. They remain visible and freely accessible to the public throughout the summer, from late May to late September, offering visitors a surprising and inspiring plant journey at the foot of the mountains.
Themes that foster dialogue between humans and nature
Each edition of the festival explores a facet of the relationship between humans and plants. The themes of previous editions reflect this richness: in 2024, the 6th edition, titled “The Tree and the Feather: The Garden Tells its Story”, invited creators to weave links between the garden and literary narrative. In 2025, the 7th edition celebrated cinema by offering gardens inspired by the seventh art, with activities throughout the day. For 2026, the 8th edition is announced under the theme of “Regenerative and Joyful Gardens”, exploring environmentally friendly gardening practices and the benefits of gardens for well-being.
An event rooted in the Alpine territory
The Festival des Jardins Alpestres benefits from the support of the French Landscape Federation, the Fondation du Bocage, and numerous local partners. It is part of an initiative to promote Alpine natural heritage and raise awareness of environmental issues. Educational workshops, guided tours, and conferences complement the program, making the festival a true hub for cultural and environmental mediation.
A competition open to professionals and students
The heart of the festival is its ephemeral garden creation competition. Each year, a jury composed of landscape professionals, elected officials, and qualified personalities selects the most inventive and relevant projects for the edition's theme. The selected teams have a few days to create their gardens on the esplanade before opening to the public. This participatory and creative format makes the Festival des Jardins Alpestres unique among garden festivals in France.
Jardins Alpestres — edition 2026
The 8th edition of the Festival des Jardins Alpestres in Albertville will take place from late May to September 2026 on the theme of “Regenerative and Joyful Gardens”. This new edition will explore environmentally friendly gardening practices and the virtues of the garden as a source of joy and well-being, through an ephemeral garden creation competition open to professionals and students.
8th Edition — Regenerative and Joyful Gardens
The Festival des Jardins Alpestres returns for its 8th edition starting May 30, 2026, on the Albertville gardens esplanade. The chosen theme, “Regenerative and Joyful Gardens”, invites creators to imagine ephemeral gardens that celebrate the regeneration of living things and the power of the garden as a space for joy, sharing, and reconnection with nature.
The selected teams — professional landscapers and students — will create their gardens on the esplanade during the opening weekend. The creations will remain visible and freely accessible to the public throughout the summer, until the end of September 2026.
Prices Jardins Alpestres 2026
Practical information — Jardins Alpestres
Practical Information
Access
By car: Albertville is accessible via the A430 motorway from Chambéry (approx. 50 km, 40 min). The gardens esplanade is located on Avenue des Chasseurs alpins, in the city center.
By train: Albertville SNCF station, served by TER from Chambéry (45 min). The esplanade is a 10-minute walk from the station.
Prices
Access to the gardens is free for the entire duration of the exhibition (from late May to late September). The opening weekend activities are also free.
Opening Hours
The gardens are permanently accessible on the esplanade. The inauguration weekend features activities from 10 am to 6 pm.
Contact
City of Albertville — Culture Department
12 Cours de l'Hôtel de Ville, 73200 Albertville
Tel: 04 79 10 44 50
Website: albertville.fr
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Travel to this festival
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Where does it take place — Jardins Alpestres
Esplanade des Jardins
Avenue des Chasseurs alpins, 73200 Albertville