Plant Festival at the Château du Grand Jardin

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.