Les Balcons
in Le Grand Pressigny is
a substantial 3 bed room house over two floors
with a delightful raised balcony offering lovely views to give you a
countryside feel but with all the village amenities.
Every year since 1992, the
gardens of chateau 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.
From over 300 proposals 20 to 30 gardens are selected for inclusion in the festival. Included were contributions from the UK, Japan, the Netherlands, Germany and Italy. The displays are also
illuminated under the 'Gardens of Light' theme allowing
visitors the chance to explore the gardens by night. The chateau is also enhanced by the glow of over 2000 candles (10pm 1st July - 30th August)
The 2012 Festival will run from April 25th until the 14th October
Theme yet to be announced.
From 08 April to 03 November 2011 the chateau and gardens of Chaumont also plays host to 'Centre d’Arts et de Nature' (Arts and Nature Centre), which welcomes ten artists to contribute visual and photographic exhibitions. These will be placed throughout the chateau and gardens to best effect.
The kids will like it here, exploring the the permanent features like the 'Valley of the mists' (Vallon des Brumes) and taking the ' wild iron pathway' (Sentier des Fers Sauvages ). They will also like the twisting and turning pathway of the festival that always leads to somethingdifferent
There are normally quite a few of the exhibits that will be of interest to them as they are interactive in a variety of ways. With the theme
changing every year you'll always find something different.
Taking a picnic along will add to the experience even though there
are a few options for eating on the site.
We enjoyed the colour of the 2009 Festival with our favourite being 'Laundry in bloom' with the clothes being the same colour as the flowers underneath.
Our favourites from 2010 (Body & Soul)
On the pond
Forest of colour
The anti-gardener
This year ( 2011 ) we visited Chaumont Garden festival in late April to check it out at an earlier stage. We were not sure if we would be disappointed with the plantings perhaps not being established enough but where we can see that there is quite a bit to look forward to, the gardens were still a delight. We will not be able to look at a wooden crate again without thinking of skyscrapers - inspired.
The festival always throws up interesting and amusing ideas from the poignant 'The garden of extinct plants' laid out like a graveyard (a bit of an eye-opener) to Madam Irma's predictions via her gypsy caravan.
