Le Printemps du Grand Jardin

Le Printemps du Grand Jardin: The Botanical Renaissance of an Exceptional Site

Each spring, the Château du Grand Jardin in Joinville reopens its doors after the winter break and invites the public to celebrate the renewal of nature in a unique heritage setting. Built between 1533 and 1546 by Claude de Lorraine, the first Duke of Guise, this Renaissance pleasure pavilion and its four-hectare park, classified as a Remarkable Garden, provide the ideal setting for a festival dedicated to gardens, plants, and music.

A Plant Market in a Renaissance Garden

For a weekend, the castle park transforms into a vibrant plant market, bringing together nursery owners, horticulturists, and producers from the Grand Est region and beyond. Visitors can discover and purchase rare plants, old varieties of roses, aromatic and medicinal plants, ornamental shrubs, and vegetable seedlings. The exhibitors, all passionate, offer cultivation advice and gardening tips adapted to the continental climate of Haute-Marne.

A Nationally Significant Botanical Collection

Le Printemps du Grand Jardin is also an opportunity to discover the castle's national boxwood collection, certified by the Conservatory of Specialized Plant Collections (CCVS). With over 500 boxwood plants representing 15 species, 153 varieties, and 124 cultivars, this collection is one of the largest in France. The 139 geometric boxwood topiaries and 56 yew topiaries punctuate the Renaissance parterres, offering a striking botanical spectacle.

Guided Tours and Heritage Workshops

Guided tours of the château and its gardens are offered throughout the weekend, providing insight into the history of this reception and festive venue of the Dukes of Guise, lords of Joinville. The guides discuss the Renaissance architecture of the pavilion, the art of 16th-century gardens, and the site's restoration by the Departmental Council of Haute-Marne, the monument's owner.

• Botanical workshops: introduction to topiary pruning, identification of aromatic and medicinal plants, grafting techniques for old fruit trees
• Commented walks through the Renaissance geometric garden and the 19th-century romantic landscaped park
• Discovery of the conservatory orchard with its 364 fruit trees of heritage varieties
• Green labyrinth trail for families and children

Open-Air Classical Music Concerts

Le Printemps du Grand Jardin also features a high-quality musical program with classical music concerts and chamber music performances held outdoors in the enchanting park setting. Violin, cello, piano, organ, and brass ensembles resonate under the ancient trees, creating an intimate and refined atmosphere. These concerts are organized in partnership with regional and national musical ensembles, continuing the festive and cultural purpose that Claude de Lorraine envisioned for this place as early as the 16th century.

An Event for All Audiences

Le Printemps du Grand Jardin appeals to gardening and botany enthusiasts, heritage lovers, music aficionados, and families looking for an outdoor cultural outing. The event contributes to the tourism promotion of Joinville, a town of character in Haute-Marne, and to the renown of the Château du Grand Jardin, an exceptional testament to the Renaissance art of living.