Rencontres d'Artisans du Château d'Acquigny

Artisan crafts in a remarkable garden

The Artisan Encounters take place at the château d'Acquigny, in the Eure department, during the European Heritage Days weekend. The grounds and gardens, awarded the « Remarkable Garden » label in 2015, host master craftspeople from the Eure valley in partnership with the local arts and crafts association. They showcase their work, perform live demonstrations, and sell their creations on-site.

Rare skills

The château highlights a wide range of expertise, including: tapestry, stained glass, artistic ironwork, ceramics, painting restoration, stone carving, photography, lutherie, decorative painting, chair caning and re-seating, framing and gilding, carpentry, weather vane making, cabinet making, and bead embroidery.

A journey between heritage and nature

Exhibitions and demonstrations are held between the old cider press, the 1746 orangery, and its Italian-inspired garden, featuring topiary and Mediterranean plants. Surrounding this is a 16-hectare romantic park, crisscrossed by an artificial river and a network of canals diverting water from the Iton, complete with waterfalls, bridges, and rock paths. The Renaissance château, built between 1557 and 1572, is attributed to Philibert Delorme. Bald cypresses, plane trees, sophoras, purple beeches, and sequoias earned the estate the « Remarkable Tree Collection » label in 2014.

Opening hours and prices

The event opens at 10:00 am on Saturday and Sunday; closing times vary by day and edition. Admission to the park and gardens during Heritage Days is 7 €, and is free for those under 18, students, job seekers, and people with disabilities. No booking is required.