Fête des Plantes d'Ainay-le-Vieil
Horticultural festival at the Château d'Ainay-le-Vieil
2026
About Fête des Plantes d'Ainay
The Ainay-le-Vieil Plant Festival is a horticultural event held every year in early October by the Les Jardins de La Loubière association in the upper courtyard of the Château d'Ainay-le-Vieil. Over two days, between fifty and sixty exhibitors—including nursery owners, horticulturists, and artisans—offer plants, shrubs, rare flowers, and garden accessories, all set against the backdrop of the medieval castle and its remarkable gardens.
Fête des Plantes d'Ainay — edition 2026
The Ainay-le-Vieil Plant Festival returns to the castle's upper courtyard on October 3rd and 4th, 2026, for its 19th edition. The Les Jardins de La Loubière association brings together fifty to sixty exhibitors—nurserymen, horticulturists, and artisans—to celebrate plants and the art of gardening. The castle restaurant, La Volière, will be exceptionally open for the occasion.
2026 Plant Festival — 19th Edition
The Ainay-le-Vieil Plant Festival takes place on October 3rd and 4th, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, in the upper courtyard of the Château d'Ainay-le-Vieil. The Les Jardins de La Loubière association is hosting its 19th edition, featuring between fifty and sixty exhibitors.
The 2 € entry ticket includes participation in the exhibitor raffle, with prizes drawn every thirty minutes.
Visitors will find nurserymen, horticulturists, aloe vera and bulb/rose specialists, as well as artisans offering honey and nougats, nonettes, basketry, herbal teas, soaps and candles, books, rattan garden furniture, pottery, woodwork, fresh and dried floral arrangements, metal decor, olive oil, woodturning, landscaping services, cork, paintings, garden tools, jams, and chair caning.
La Volière, the castle restaurant, will be open throughout both days.
Highlights Fête des Plantes d'Ainay 2026
- 19th Plant Festival
- Between 50 and 60 exhibitors
- Exhibitor raffle with prizes every 30 minutes
- Castle restaurant open for the event
- Admission: 2 €
Programme Fête des Plantes d'Ainay 2026
Saturday, October 3rd
- 10:00 AM–6:00 PM — Plant Festival in the castle's upper courtyard: nurserymen, horticulturists, and artisans, featuring an exhibitor raffle (prizes drawn every thirty minutes)
- 10:00 AM–6:00 PM — La Volière, the castle restaurant, will be open for the occasion
Sunday, October 4th
- 10:00 AM–6:00 PM — Plant Festival in the castle's upper courtyard: nurserymen, horticulturists, and artisans, featuring an exhibitor raffle (prizes drawn every thirty minutes)
- 10:00 AM–6:00 PM — La Volière, the castle restaurant, will be open for the occasion
Between fifty and sixty exhibitors are expected, including nurserymen, horticulturists, aloe vera producers, bulb and rose specialists, honey and nougat makers, nonettes, basketry, herbal teas, soaps and candles, a bookstore, rattan garden furniture, potters, woodwork, fresh and dried floral arrangements, metal decorations, olive oil, woodturning, landscapers, cork products, painters, garden tools, jams, and chair caning.
Prices Fête des Plantes d'Ainay 2026
Practical information — Fête des Plantes d'Ainay
Practical information
Location
The festival takes place in the upper courtyard of the Château d'Ainay-le-Vieil, 7 rue du Château, Ainay-le-Vieil (18200), in the Cher department.
Dates and times
Saturday and Sunday, from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Admission
Entry: €2 per person (includes entry to the exhibitors' raffle).
Exhibitors
Between fifty and sixty exhibitors: nursery owners, horticulturists, and artisans (aloe vera, bulbs, roses, honey and nougat, basketry, herbal teas, soaps, pottery, garden furniture, woodwork, floral arrangements, olive oil, woodturning, landscapers, painters, garden tools, jams, and chair caning).
Dining
La Volière, the castle restaurant, will be exceptionally open during these two days.
Access
Ainay-le-Vieil is located 45 km south of Bourges and 10 km from Saint-Amand-Montrond. Accessible via the D951 and D35 roads. Parking is available nearby.
Contact
Organizer: Association Les Jardins de La Loubière
Castle: chateau-ainaylevieil.fr
A plant festival at the castle
The Ainay-le-Vieil Plant Festival takes place every year in early October in the upper courtyard of the Château d'Ainay-le-Vieil, a 12th-century medieval fortress. Organized by the Les Jardins de La Loubière association, this horticultural event brings together gardening enthusiasts and families for two days in a historic setting.
Between fifty and sixty exhibitors
The festival brings together between fifty and sixty exhibitors—nursery owners, horticulturists, producers of aloe vera, bulbs, and roses—as well as artisans offering honey and nougat, basketry, herbal teas, soaps and candles, books, rattan garden furniture, pottery, woodwork, floral arrangements, metal decorations, olive oil, woodturning, landscaping services, cork products, paintings, garden tools, jams, and chair caning.
A raffle to support the association
The €2 entry ticket includes participation in the exhibitors' raffle, with prizes drawn every thirty minutes. Proceeds from the raffle support the initiatives of the Les Jardins de La Loubière association.
The castle restaurant is open
La Volière, the restaurant at the Château d'Ainay-le-Vieil, will be open throughout the two days of the festival.
Where does it take place — Fête des Plantes d'Ainay
Fête des Plantes d'Ainay in brief
Other festivals near Ainay-le-Vieil
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