Route de la Rose en Fête

La Route de la Rose en Fête: A Fragrant Celebration at Château de Chamerolles

Every year at the beginning of June, the Château de Chamerolles in Chilleurs-aux-Bois opens its doors wide to host La Route de la Rose en Fête, a festive weekend entirely dedicated to the queen of flowers. Nestled in the heart of the Orléans forest, one hour from Paris, this 16th-century Renaissance castle houses 77 varieties of roses in its gardens, offering a true explosion of scents and colors that provides the ideal setting for this exceptional event.

A Rose Heritage Rooted in the History of Loiret

The tradition of the rose in Loiret dates back to the Middle Ages, when wild dog roses from the woods were already being grafted. In the 18th century, renowned nurseries emerged, and in the 19th century, the Loire River, fertile lands, and favorable climate amplified the development of rose cultivation. In the 20th century, Orléanais became the capital of the rose, hosting the first French International Floralies. It is in this lineage that Tourisme Loiret created the Route de la Rose, a route connecting about twenty gardens, rose gardens, nurseries, and producers throughout the department. La Route de la Rose en Fête is its festive highlight, celebrated at Château de Chamerolles.

A Rich and Sensory Program

Over two days, the castle and its gardens come alive with a varied program, accessible to all audiences:

• Guided tours of the rose garden: Guided tours to discover the 77 varieties of roses, their history, and their scents, with passionate guides revealing the secrets of rose cultivation
• Floral art workshops: Creation of bouquets and floral arrangements under the direction of professional florists, inspired by the castle's Renaissance gardens
• Culinary activities: Medieval cooking workshops featuring roses, making rose syrup, rose biscuits, and tasting pastries and macarons with floral flavors
• Sensory walks: Guided walks combining botany, discovery of dye plants, and olfactory exploration in the park and gardens
• Creative workshops for children: Making paper roses, pinwheels, vegetable sculptures, and activity booklets for young explorers
• Tree climbing: Outdoor activity to discover the estate from the treetops, accessible to both young and old
• Shows and entertainment: Theatrical performances, shows for children, and open-air concerts

The Enchanted Saturday Evening

Saturday evening is a special moment of the festival. Starting at 7 PM, the castle transforms for an enchanted evening event: an open-air jazz concert, a rose-flavored aperitif, an olfactory rally in the illuminated gardens, followed by a candlelit tour of the castle where scents guide visitors through the historic rooms. Poetic and artistic performances punctuate this magical evening where the rose is revealed in a new light, between shadows and lights.

An Exceptional Renaissance Setting

The Château de Chamerolles, built between 1500 and 1530 by Lancelot Ier du Lac, is a jewel of Renaissance architecture. Owned by the Département du Loiret, it houses a perfume walk retracing the history of hygiene and perfumery from the 16th century to the present day. Its reconstructed Renaissance gardens, moats, drawbridge, and wooded park form a remarkable heritage setting that gives La Route de la Rose en Fête a unique historical and cultural dimension, far beyond a simple gardening festival.