Tuesday for towns - Chaumont-sur-Loire

Chaumont-sur-Loire is a small village (pop. around 1100) with a large chateau. Predominately consisting of a single street along the south bank of the Loire river it is lorded over by its chateau of the same name.It is a relatively new village by French standards and was really only created as part of the reconstruction of the chateau grounds in the middle of the 19th century. More info here...

Image © Marc Hetter

 

Chaumont Garden Festival 2016...

 CHAUMONT INTERNATIONAL GARDEN FESTIVAL 2016

This year the festival gardens are open between April 21st and November 2nd.

The theme for this, the 25th edition of the festival, is ‘GARDENS OF THE CENTURY AHEAD’

Over the years (it started 1992) the INTERNATIONAL GARDEN FESTIVAL in the grounds of the chateau at Chaumont-sur-Loire has built a reputation for presenting innovative garden designs around various themes by landscape gardeners from around the globe.We visit the festival every year to view the new displays and are yet to be disappointed.

Here are some images from previous years...

 Prés du Goualoup

.The 10-hectare park of the chateau also hosts large art installations and the area 'Prés du Goualoup', a 2012 addition, has, among other things,a log whirlpool and a box-hedge lemon squeezer!

Jardins de Lumière

From the 1st July to the 31st August 2016  you can also take in " Light of Gardens " where original lighting transforms the festival gardens every evening (except Friday), from 10.00pm until midnight. You must enter before 11.00pm and can use your purchased day ticket for free access.

Illuminated garden photographs courtesy of Armand de Foucault http://hortibus.blogspot.fr/

Looking for accommodation - check out these village houses

Chaumont Garden Festival

Every year since 1992, the gardens of Chaumont-sur-Loire play host to the annual ‘Festival des Jardins’, a garden festival with up to 30 themed gardens. These gardens are created by different landscape architects, designers and artists around a theme, which changes every year. This brings the chateau surroundings to life with the colour and fragrances of the many plants and flowers on display. It also promotes nursery projects and lets both the public and trade see new ideas on the use of colour and materials in flower and garden displays. Due to its continued quality and success the garden festival has gained an international reputation with visitors coming from every corner of the globe.

he 2013 Festival will run from 24th April until the 20th October

Theme "Gardens of sensations"

You can preview the gardens here.

You can see a slide show of the 2012 gardens here...

If you love gardens...

If you are green fingered or just love looking at gardens, then the Loire Valley  might just be your paradise! Blessed with not only the gardens of its famous Chateaux, here we also have its beautiful city gardens, formal public gardens and natural parks. Of the chateaux gardens Villandry towers over its rivals and is a joy to behold.

More info.here...Villandry

Something different can be viewed annually at the garden festival in the grounds of  Chateau Chaumont-sur- Loire.From over 300 proposals 20 to 30 gardens are selected for inclusion in the festival. Including contributions from the UK, Japan, the Netherlands, Germany and Italy.

More info. here...garden festival

In all the major towns and cities you will find parks and gardens that will delight you. Visit our website for more details and ideas.