For art and nature lovers, garden festivals are an extraordinary opportunity to immerse yourself in beauty and discover unique creations that combine art, design and landscape. Among the most famous is undoubtedly the International Garden Festival of Chaumont-sur-Loire, which since 1992 has been held every year within the estate of this Loire castle, which is also an Art and Nature Center. An unmissable event that sees every year artists, landscapers and designers from all over the world creating unique works for the occasion around a constantly changing theme. The constant, however, is always the perfect fusion of creativity, imagination, poetry, and nature.

The International Garden Festival: The Perfect Mix of Art and Nature

Known as the International Festival des Jardins, the first edition was held in 1992 in order to breathe new life into the castle and its vast surrounding park. Since then its popularity has increased every year until it is recognized as one of the most important festivals of its kind, celebrating the meeting between nature, creativity and sustainability.

The castle where the festival takes place is in the eponymous Chaumont-sur-Loire, a delightful village in central France overlooking the Loire. Amidst local stone houses and lush vegetation fed by the river waters that dominate from above, the Chaumont Castle stands uncontested guardian of this enchanting landscape. Since 2000, along with the entire Loire Valley region, this beautiful piece of architecture has become a UNESCO World Heritage Site, attracting thousands of tourists from all over the world every year.

How the Festival Works: The Perfect Opportunity to Discover the Loire

Each year the International Garden Festival of Chaumont-sur-Loire transforms the castle park into a huge exhibition of gardens and artistic installations. Artists and landscapers selected by a competent jury compete in the creation of temporary gardens, each on the theme chosen for that year and with a story to tell.

Festival visitors can stroll through the gardens and discover a variety of green artworks, from floral sculptures to futuristic installations. Each garden represents a creative interpretation of the assigned theme, creating an immersive experience that stimulates the senses and imagination. The great merit of this event lies in the choice of imagination and creativity as common denominators of all projects: awakening the collective imagination of people, inserting flowers as structural elements, is an operation of great naturalistic and artistic interest.

There are also many activities and workshops organized in the context of the castle and its gardens, another reason why the place is always very popular. Especially if you plan to visit during the summer, we recommend that you purchase your ticket in advance through the official website to avoid long queues, which sometimes even exceed the entrance gate to the Domaine.

After visiting the wonders of the International Garden Festival, the next step is to discover the Loire Valley and its infinite architectural, artistic and, of course, gastronomic beauties. On a bike, you will enjoy a dream itinerary, exploring one of the most fascinating places in all of Europe.

The Loire Valley, thanks to the cycle path de La Loire à Vélo, which allows you to move in complete safety and tranquility from one castle to another, is one of the most loved destinations by cyclists. Due to the ease of the stages, mostly flat, the tours among the castles of the Loire are suitable for any type of cyclist, including children. On Cyclando you'll find dozens of routes in this wonderful region of France, all customizable. What are you waiting for? Choose your Cyclando departure!