Plant Festival at the Château du Grand Jardin
Plant market and botanical activities in the Renaissance gardens of the Château du Grand Jardin
About Plant Festival of Joinville
A Renaissance Setting to Celebrate Plants
The Château du Grand Jardin, built between 1533 and 1546 by Claude de Lorraine, the first Duke of Guise, is a Renaissance architectural gem classified as a Historic Monument. Designed as a pleasure pavilion dedicated to parties and receptions, it is surrounded by four hectares of remarkable gardens, making it the ideal setting for a plant festival. Its Renaissance garden with geometric parterres bordered by topiary-trimmed boxwood, its plant labyrinth, and its conservatory orchard offer a sumptuous backdrop to visitors.
An Exceptional Botanical Collection
The Grand Jardin park houses a national boxwood collection certified by the Conservatory of Specialized Plant Collections (CCVS), comprising over 500 specimens representing 15 species, 153 varieties, and 124 cultivars. The collection also includes 139 boxwood topiaries in geometric shapes and 56 yew topiaries. The castle is a member of the European Boxwood and Topiary Society France, demonstrating its international renown in the field of topiary art.
A Market of Nursery Owners and Plant Artisans
During the Plant Festival, professional nursery owners and specialized producers from across the Grand Est region and beyond set up their stalls along the park's pathways. They offer a carefully selected range of perennials, shrubs, old and modern roses, aromatic and medicinal plants, ornamental grasses, climbing plants, and rare species adapted to the continental climate of Haute-Marne. Visitors receive personalized advice for designing their gardens and balconies.
Workshops, Conferences, and Activities for All
The event features a program of practical workshops: introduction to topiary trimming, propagation techniques, planter composition, and identification of edible wild plants. Themed conferences led by botanists and landscape designers cover topics such as ecological gardening, biodiversity in the garden, and the history of Renaissance gardens. Guided tours of the castle and its gardens allow visitors to discover the history of the place and the secrets of its botanical collection.
Family Activities and Garden Lifestyle
Children are not forgotten, with potting workshops, botanical treasure hunts in the park, and nature activities led by instructors. A food court highlights local products from Haute-Marne, allowing visitors to pleasantly extend their discovery in this enchanting setting. Garden art artisans (ironwork, pottery, basketry) complement the offerings with decorative creations to embellish outdoor spaces.
Joinville, a Renaissance Town of Character
The Plant Festival is also an opportunity to discover Joinville, a charming Renaissance town labeled "Petite Cité de Caractère" (Small Town of Character), nestled in the Marne Valley. The town preserves a rich architectural heritage from the era of the Dukes of Guise: the Auditoire, the Quai des Peceaux district, half-timbered houses, and the Château d'En-Haut. A stroll through the historic streets ideally complements a visit to the Grand Jardin.
Plant Festival of Joinville — edition 2026
2026 edition of the spring event at the Château du Grand Jardin in Joinville, organized as part of the 5th World Topiary Day on Sunday, May 10th, 2026. On the program: guided tours on the theme of topiary art in the Renaissance garden, topiary pruning demonstrations, and a meeting with Cédric Bronnimann, 2025 laureate of the Henchman Topiary Awards (professional category).
The Château du Grand Jardin Participates in the 5th World Topiary Day
For its 2026 spring event, the Château du Grand Jardin in Joinville has partnered with the 5th edition of World Topiary Day, organized on May 9th and 10th, 2026, in dozens of parks and gardens in France, Europe, and even the United States. The event is coordinated by EBTS France (French Association for Topiary Art and Boxwood), in partnership with Levens Hall in the United Kingdom.
In Joinville, the participation at the Château du Grand Jardin took place on Sunday, May 10th, 2026, in coherence with the CCVS-labeled national boxwood collection preserved on site (more than 150 varieties, nearly 250 boxwood and yew topiaries).
Program for Sunday, May 10th, 2026
- 10:30 AM and 2:00 PM — Guided tours "Topiary Art in the Renaissance Garden"
- 10:30 AM to 5:00 PM — Topiary pruning demonstrations and meeting with Cédric Bronnimann, 2025 laureate of the Henchman Topiary Awards (professional category)
An Exceptional Renaissance Setting
Built between 1533 and 1546 by Claude de Lorraine, first Duke of Guise, the Château du Grand Jardin is surrounded by four hectares of remarkable gardens: a Renaissance garden with geometric parterres bordered by trimmed boxwood, a 19th-century romantic park with centenary trees, a plant labyrinth, and a conservatory orchard. The site houses the national boxwood collection of the Conservatoire des Collections Végétales Spécialisées (CCVS).
Programme Plant Festival of Joinville 2026
Sunday, May 10th, 2026
- 10:30 AM — Guided tour "Topiary Art in the Renaissance Garden"
- 10:30 AM → 5:00 PM — Continuous topiary pruning demonstrations, meeting with Cédric Bronnimann (2025 laureate of the Henchman Topiary Awards — professional category)
- 2:00 PM — Guided tour "Topiary Art in the Renaissance Garden" (2nd session)
Highlights Plant Festival of Joinville 2026
- Participation in the 5th World Topiary Day
- Meeting with Cédric Bronnimann, 2025 laureate of the Henchman Topiary Awards
- Thematic guided tours of the national boxwood collection (CCVS)
- Continuous topiary pruning demonstrations from 10:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Prices Plant Festival of Joinville 2026
Practical information — Plant Festival of Joinville
Practical Information
Location
The Plant Festival takes place in the park and gardens of the Château du Grand Jardin, 5 avenue de la Marne, 52300 Joinville, in Haute-Marne (Grand Est region). The entire four-hectare estate is accessible to visitors during the event, including the Renaissance garden, the romantic park, and the castle grounds.
Access
- By car: Joinville is located on the N67, 30 km south of Saint-Dizier and 50 km north of Chaumont. From Paris (approx. 2h30), take the A5 then the N4 towards Saint-Dizier, then the N67 towards Joinville. From Nancy (approx. 1h30), take the N4 towards Saint-Dizier then the N67. Free parking near the castle and in adjacent streets.
- By train: Joinville SNCF station, on the Saint-Dizier – Neufchâteau line. The castle is about a 10-minute walk from the station by following the avenue de la Marne.
Opening Hours
Open from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM on both days of the event (Saturday and Sunday). Last entry at 5:30 PM.
Prices
Admission to the Plant Festival grants access to the entire park, gardens, and castle activities.
- Full price: €6.50
- Reduced price: €4.50 (students, ages 12-17, job seekers, people with disabilities)
- Group rate: €5 (for groups of 10 or more)
- Free: for children under 12 years old
Contact
Château du Grand Jardin — Property of the Departmental Council of Haute-Marne.
Address: 5 avenue de la Marne, 52300 Joinville.
Website: haute-marne.fr
Tourism: bienvenue-hautemarne.fr
On-site Services
- Food and drink stalls offering local products from Haute-Marne
- Restrooms accessible to visitors
- Shaded picnic area in the landscaped park
- Partial accessibility for people with reduced mobility (main paths are stabilized)
- Tourist information point for Joinville and Haute-Marne
Visitor Tips
Wear comfortable shoes to explore the four hectares of the estate. Wheelbarrows are available to transport plant purchases to the parking lot. In case of rain, activities will be held under marquees.
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Where does it take place — Plant Festival of Joinville
Château du Grand Jardin
5 avenue de la Marne, 52300 Joinville