Festival of Tomato and Flavors
Gastronomy and nature at Château de la Bourdaisière
2026
About Festival of Tomato
The Tomato and Flavors Festival takes place every second weekend of September at the Château de la Bourdaisière in Montlouis-sur-Loire, home to the National Tomato Conservatory, which houses over 800 varieties. Each year, this two-day event draws thousands of visitors to explore the tomato in all its forms: blind tastings, culinary demonstrations, a seed and plant market, lectures, and workshops. Around fifty exhibitors offer seeds, culinary products, cosmetics, and wellness items. The festival is a celebration of cultivated biodiversity and authentic flavors.
Festival of Tomato — edition 2026
The 28th edition of the Tomato and Flavors Festival takes place on Saturday, September 12th and Sunday, September 13th, 2026, from 10 am to 6 pm, at the Château de la Bourdaisière in Montlouis-sur-Loire. Centered around the National Tomato Conservatory and its 800 organic heirloom varieties, the event features around fifty exhibitors, culinary demonstrations, biodiversity lectures, and plenty of activities for the whole family.
Festival de la Tomate et des Saveurs 2026 — 28th Edition
On September 12th and 13th, 2026, from 10 am to 6 pm, the Château de la Bourdaisière in Montlouis-sur-Loire will host the 28th edition of its Festival de la Tomate et des Saveurs. The Conservatoire national de la Tomate, located in the estate's vegetable garden, features 800 heirloom and organic varieties. Around 50 exhibitors will be selling multicolored tomatoes, seeds, culinary plants, food products, decorative items, and cosmetics. The organizers expect 8,000 visitors over the weekend.
The program includes a tomato market, culinary demonstrations and shows, blind tomato tastings, workshops and lectures, and self-guided tours of the Conservatory and the dahlia garden (Dahliacolor). Children can enjoy a reading corner on nutrition and a drawing contest for ages 12 and under. The 2026 poster also features a new Tomato Bar.
The "Les Graines d'Angelier" escape game (1 hour, ages 12+, teams of 2 to 4) takes place by flashlight in the château's troglodyte caves. Reservations are required, and the ticket includes festival admission.
Highlights Festival of Tomato 2026
- 28th edition on September 12th and 13th, 2026, from 10 am to 6 pm
- Conservatoire national de la Tomate: 800 heirloom and organic varieties
- Around 50 exhibitors: tomatoes, seeds, culinary plants, food products, and cosmetics
- Culinary demonstrations with the Disciples d'Escoffier and chef Cédric Ravaud
- Blind tomato tasting
- "Les Graines d'Angelier" escape game in the troglodyte caves, four sessions over the weekend
- Reading corner and drawing contest for children up to 12 years old
Programme Festival of Tomato 2026
Saturday, September 12th and Sunday, September 13th, 2026, from 10 am to 6 pm
The château follows a set schedule for both days. Only the induction of the Disciples d'Escoffier is specifically scheduled for Sunday.
Workshops and Lectures
- 10:30 am and 3 pm — Q&A session with Nicolas Toutain, head gardener of the Conservatoire national de la Tomate
- 11 am and 2:30 pm — "Nature is good for us": an immersive walk through the park's woods exploring the health benefits of nature, a Macif workshop led by Gildas Veret from Horizon Permaculture, an earth and environmental science engineer
- 3:30 pm — "A more responsible tomato: when, why, and how to eat it?" — a Macif workshop led by nutritionist and dietician Anaelle Frelon
- Time to be announced — "How to harvest tomato seeds for your own seedlings" workshop, hosted by the association Graines de troc
- Sunday, September 13th, 5 pm — Induction of new Disciples d'Escoffier
Cuisine and Tastings
- Culinary demonstrations and shows featuring tomatoes, with the Disciples d'Escoffier association, students from the Notre-Dame-la-Riche MACAT professional degree (culinary and table arts), and chef Cédric Ravaud
- Blind tomato tasting
- Tomato Bar, announced as a new feature for the 2026 poster; food available on-site
Market and Exhibitors
- Around 50 exhibitors focusing on tomatoes and flavors: seeds, culinary plants, decorative items, food products, and cosmetics. The full list of exhibitors is not public.
- Sale of organic multicolored tomatoes by Jacky Mercier, a specialist in heirloom varieties
- Stand featuring seeds from the Conservatoire national de la Bourdaisière: over 200 varieties
- A dozen tomato-based products branded "Château de La Bourdaisière"
- Stand for the association Le bus du partage, which provides weekly outreach to homeless individuals in Tours
Book Signings
- "Le Conservatoire de la Tomate" by Louis Albert de Broglie and Nicolas Toutain
- "Jacky, le roi de la tomate" by Jacky Mercier
Self-guided Tours and Ongoing Activities
- Conservatoire national de la Tomate vegetable garden, accredited by the Conservatoire des collections végétales spécialisées (CCVS)
- Dahliacolor, the dahlia conservatory, also CCVS-accredited
- Children's reading corner on nutrition and a drawing contest for ages 12 and under
"Les Graines d'Angelier" Escape Game (reservation required, extra fee)
- Saturday, September 12th — 2:15 pm and 4 pm
- Sunday, September 13th — 11 am and 2:30 pm
A flashlight-led adventure in the troglodyte caves for teams of 2 to 4 people. Duration: 1 hour. Ages 12 and up. Online booking via Billetweb, organized by Cap Découvertes; the ticket includes festival admission. Additional slots may be opened for groups of 10 or more.
Note
During the festival, access to the "Deyrolle, leçons d'anatomie" exhibition is restricted. Picnics are prohibited, parking is free, and dogs are allowed in the park if kept on a leash.
Prices Festival of Tomato 2026
Reduced rate: 7 € (Montlouis residents, students, job seekers, seniors 65+, people with disabilities, groups of 20+)
Free for children under 10
Free parking
Practical information — Festival of Tomato
Practical Information
Location
Château de la Bourdaisière, 25 rue de la Bourdaisière, 37270 Montlouis-sur-Loire.
Opening Hours
One weekend in September (Saturday and Sunday), from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Admission
Adults: €9. Concessions: €7 (students, job seekers, Montlouis residents, seniors over 65, visitors with disabilities, and groups of 20 or more, with valid ID). Free for children under 10.
Getting There
The château is located 12 km from Tours and Amboise, and 7 km from the train station. From Paris, it takes 55 minutes by TGV to Saint-Pierre-des-Corps. Free parking is available on-site.
On-site
Food and refreshments are available on-site; picnics are not permitted. Dogs are welcome in the park if kept on a leash. Please note that access to the "Deyrolle, leçons d'anatomie" exhibition is restricted during the festival.
Contact
[email protected] — 02 47 45 16 31 — www.labourdaisiere.com
Tomato and Flavors Festival in Montlouis-sur-Loire
The Tomato and Flavors Festival is a unique event held every September at the Château de la Bourdaisière in Montlouis-sur-Loire. This festival celebrates the tomato in all its diversity and highlights the authentic flavors of the region, set within an estate that houses the National Tomato Conservatory.
The Tomato Conservatory
The Conservatory Kitchen Garden at the Château de la Bourdaisière is a one-of-a-kind site in France, bringing together over 800 tomato varieties from around the world. From cherry tomatoes to beefsteaks, and from black to striped varieties, this exceptional collection showcases the incredible biodiversity of this fruit-vegetable. The festival is the perfect opportunity to visit the conservatory and discover rare and heirloom varieties.
Tastings and Culinary Discoveries
The festival features a wide range of gourmet activities: blind tastings to identify different varieties, culinary demonstrations by chefs, a tomato bar, a juice bar, and more. Visitors can experience the tomato in unexpected ways and learn how to cook it using a variety of techniques.
A Market with Fifty Exhibitors
Around fifty exhibitors are on hand to offer seeds and plants of heirloom and original varieties, culinary products made from tomatoes, decorative items, cosmetics, and wellness products. It is a great chance to pick up rare seeds for your own garden and discover high-quality artisanal goods.
Lectures and Workshops
The program includes lectures on biodiversity, eco-friendly gardening, and nutrition, as well as hands-on workshops for both children and adults. The castle's Dahliacolor dahlia collection adds a floral touch to the event. In recent years, an escape game called "Les graines d'Angelier" located in the castle's troglodyte caves has further enriched the activities on offer.
An Exceptional Heritage Setting
The Château de la Bourdaisière, a Renaissance residence surrounded by a vast park, provides an idyllic backdrop for this event. Located in Montlouis-sur-Loire, between Tours and Amboise, the estate blends historical heritage with a passion for plants, making the festival a complete cultural and sensory experience.
Where does it take place — Festival of Tomato
Festival of Tomato in brief
History of Festival of Tomato
Edition 2025 Sep 2025Other festivals near Montlouis-sur-Loire
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