Les Fleurs de Mai de Saint-Benoît

Les Fleurs de Mai: Saint-Benoît's Spring Event

Since 2003, the town of Saint-Benoît, awarded 4 flowers and located near Poitiers, celebrates the return of spring each year with a major regional event: Les Fleurs de Mai. For two days, the first weekend of May, the city center transforms into a vast open-air plant fair, attracting tens of thousands of visitors from all over Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

150,000 Plants Over 30,000 m²

The scale of the event is impressive: over 60 specialized producers and nurseries take over the pedestrian streets and squares of the town center to present 150,000 plants and flowers over more than 30,000 m². Perennials, herbs, roses, climbing plants, shrubs, vegetable plants, orchids, cacti, medicinal plants... the offering is exceptionally rich, with rare varieties and expert advice from passionate professionals.

An Enchanting Journey Between Heritage and Botany

The visitor route winds from the Place du 8 Mai 1945 to the crossroads of Rue de la Gare, passing by the Abbey of Saint-Benoît, the Dortoir des Moines cloister, and the Jardin d'Images. This exceptional heritage setting gives the stroll a unique dimension, blending Romanesque architecture with a profusion of plants. Guided botanical tours are offered on Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings, allowing visitors to learn to identify regional plants.

Thematic Animations and Conferences

Each edition is dedicated to a different theme—medicinal plants, plants and climate, garden greening—with conferences at the Dortoir des Moines, practical workshops, and free plant giveaways accompanied by explanatory fact sheets. The event is entirely free and accessible to all, including people with reduced mobility.

An Event Rooted in the Territory

Supported by the municipality of Saint-Benoît and a team of dedicated volunteers, Les Fleurs de Mai contributes to the horticultural influence of the Vienne department and Grand Poitiers. The city center is entirely pedestrianized for the occasion, with free shuttle buses departing from La Hune every 20 minutes. The event has become a major family gathering where experienced gardeners, amateurs seeking advice, and strollers charmed by the colors and scents of spring mingle.