international garden festival

Step into the Loire Valley’s unique and most creative open-ai event—the International Garden Festival, which is a celebration of nature and creativity coming together. Hosted every year at the Chaumont-sur-Loire, the festival transforms the castle into a living art gallery that welcomes global landscape designers and artists to showcase their bold ideas.

Why attend?

See nature turned into a creative canvas
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See nature turned into a creative canvas

Each garden plot is a living artwork. Landscape artists, architects, and designers from around the world interpret the year’s theme in visually striking ways using plants, textures, colors, and unexpected materials.

Experience something new every year

No two editions are the same. With a different theme each spring, the festival keeps things fresh—offering new ideas, bold concepts, and cutting-edge garden trends that reflect current global concerns, from climate change to biodiversity.

Explore over 30 immersive garden installations

Wander through dozens of imaginative displays that challenge traditional ideas of what a garden can be. Some are playful and interactive, others are poetic or provocative—but all are rooted in real horticultural technique.

Perfect mix of nature, design, and storytelling

Whether you’re an art lover, gardening enthusiast, or just looking for a unique day out, the festival blends creative expression with nature in a way that’s easy to enjoy, even without prior knowledge of plants or design.

Set in a truly unique location

The gardens sit within the estate of Chaumont-sur-Loire, a classic storybook castle with panoramic views of the Loire River, and contemporary art installations sprinkled across the grounds. It’s an ideal setting for a relaxed cultural outing.

History of the garden festival

Launched in 1992, the International Garden Festival was created to give landscape design the same stage as other major arts. It began as an initiative by the Chaumont-sur-Loire Castle to transform the estate into a living space for contemporary creation—blending history, nature, and innovation.

Held annually in the castle’s parkland, the festival quickly gained popularity, growing into one of Europe’s leading garden showcases.

Over the years, it has welcomed hundreds of designers from across the globe, and its success helped cement Chaumont’s identity as both a heritage site and a hub of ecological and creative exploration. Today, the festival is a spring-to-fall highlight in France’s cultural calendar—drawing curious visitors, professionals, and design enthusiasts alike.

Themes & Dates

Currently ongoing

Dates: April 25—November 3, 2025

Theme: Once Upon a Time, a Garden: Enchanted Garden, Enchanting Garden

Previous years

2024: Garden, Source of Life

2023: Resilient Garden

2022: Ideal Garden

2021: Biomimicry in the Garden

2020: Gardens of the Earth, Return to Mother Earth

Plan your visit

Dates: April 25—November 3, 2025

Timings: The opening hours match that of the castle. To know by season, check detailed timings here.

Tickets: Your castle entry ticket includes access to the garden festival; no need of separate tickets.

Getting here: You can either board a train or drive down from Paris. Cycling along the Loire à Vélo route is also a popular option. Choose from a selection of transport options here.

Frequently asked questions about the International Garden Festival

Yes! It’s one of Europe’s top garden events. Expect creative, thought-provoking garden designs that change each year.