Rendez-Vous Aux Jardins: Celebrate France’s gardens this weekend

The 18th edition of France’s Rendez-Vous Aux Jardins event takes place this weekend (June 4, 5 and 6) with the theme “the transmission of knowledge” (la transmission des savoirs).

Around 2,500 parks around France are participating with various events planned at each, including guided tours, art shows, lessons for children and discussions on nature.

This year will feature 200 parks open for the first time to visitors, access to 250 private parks and around 3,500 different organised events.

Examples include a free guided visit of the Jardin du théâtre Max Jacob in Quimper (Brittany), a free tour of the gardens of the Château de la Piscine near Montpellier and a free concert at the Jardin de Jules et Léonie in Valmondois (Val-d'Oise).

The day started in France in 2004 and was extended to become a Europe-wide event in 2018. Now 3,000 thousands parks in 22 european countries are participating in the day.

Last year’s event was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and so the theme was carried over to this year.

France’s Culture Minister Roselyne Bachelot-Narquin said that she expected many visitors this year to “explore the richness and variety of our parks and gardens, private and public, of all styles and periods”.

“More than 3,000 parks and gardens in France and Europe will be taking part in this great European garden festival this year, offering us precious moments of discovery and exchange,” she wrote in a press statement about the event.

The event takes place over three days, with Friday (June 4) reserved mainly for school children and school trips. Saturday and Sunday are open to the wider public.

Prices for entrance and events vary.

You can find a full programme of events in your area on the Ministry of Culture’s website here.

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