..:: Animations ::..

More than just a simple plant festival, it's a garden of events : since its creation in 1994, the « Fête des Jardiniers » sets at Le Lude a lifestyle at home and in the garden. It takes place every year, the first weekend of june.

An exhibition and sale gathers essentially nurserymen and horticulturists, plant growers or selected collectors together with garden and decorative equipment.

Useful information: Opening hours from 10:30am till 7pm. Several lunch options available on site.

Workshop

During the whole Garden Week-end visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy gardening workshops and expert advices: pruning vines, roses and fruit trees, lawn maintenance, grafting, cutting, gardening for children.

The stoves in the old kitchens of the chateau are revived, inviting the gourmet amateurs to taste and assist the jam-making process of rose petals, rhubarb and strawberries.

Poultry exhibition :

Chickens, rabbits, ducks and pigeons: the poultry association of Sarthe presents its collections in the orangery garden.

The trees climbers

Le Prix Pierre-Joseph Redouté

On Saturday afternoon, the highlight of the weekend is marked by the official of the 13th Pierre-Joseph Redouté Prize giving, sponsored by the Institute Jardiland, to the best gardening book of the year, in the presence of authors and publishers. Awards are followed by the signings of the award-winning authors.

EXHIBITION AT THE CHATEAU :

During the summer 2012, the castle's state rooms will turn to different themes from interior design to tableware all inspired by the 18th century masters skills and know how.

From animals figurines to carved basket enlightened with fine embroideries, each room throughout the palace will give an overview of Bourg-Joly Malicorne that dates back 1747 and was established just in the neighbouring village of Malicorne.

You will also be given the chance to admire the gigantic faience necklace, result of the tight collaboration with the modern artist David Michael Clarke. And you will see the fine overcoat buttons inspired by the Flying man Museum of Sable archives.

The company craftsmen and Mrs Rabard, retired from the fashion house Lesage, will also put on display some of their exclusive masterpieces results of their fruitful collaboration.

When Bourg-Joly Malicorne meets Le Lude, splendour, arts, skills and way of life will be reunited.

GARDEN AND GOURMET'S WEEKENDS
July 14th & 15th, August 12th & 15th

During summer, one weekend in July and the other in August, Garden and Gourmet's weekend invites us in an unusual and evocative discovery of the Château du Lude and its gardens. In the basement of the castle, the beautiful kitchen, in use since the 15th century, is booming: it prepares in the correct way the traditional gourmet jams, with fruit harvested from the hundred-year-old garden. Depending on the season, it will be raspberries, pears, greengages, blackberries or strawberries. The kitchen garden is especially open to visitors for the occasion!

THE EUROPEAN HERITAGE DAYS
September 15th and 16th

During the European Heritage Days, the kitchen garden is exceptionally open to visitors, and furnaces are turned on in the old kitchen for late summer jams. Visitors will have the opportunity taste on the jams on the spot with homemade pancakes!