Germinations, the new free arts festival that transforms a Yvelines village

GERMINATIONS is the name of the first ecological arts festival to transform Raizeux (Yvelines) into an open-air gallery. 24 French and international artists will take over 4 sites in the village from September 13 to 28, 2025, all with free access.

What isGerminations? Imagine a new arts festival that promises to transform Raizeux, a charming Yvelines village, into a veritable artistic and ecological laboratory. From September 13 to 28, 2025, this first free edition will bring together 24 French and international artists around a unique multidisciplinary program that will question our relationship with living things. The event will take place at four emblematic sites in the village that are well worth a visit:

Espace Robert Doisneau: this 3,000 m² leisure area near the town hall pays tribute to the famous humanist photographer, whose family was originally from the village,
L'étang et ses abords: located near the town hall, this leisure area on the banks of the Guesle offers an unspoilt natural setting,
The historic washhouse: located within the La Motte educational gardens, this 19th-century rural heritage, fed by a natural spring, bears witness to life in bygone days,
The Libellule library and the Salle des fêtes: these community facilities complete the village's cultural offering.

The choice of Raizeux reveals the ambition of the project. This commune in the Yvelines region, voted the healthiest rural commune in the Île-de-France region in 2023 and awarded the "Villes et Villages Fleuris" label, offers an exceptional natural setting. Situated on the edge of the Rambouillet forest, Raizeux combines the charm of an ancient village with the vitality of a small rural commune. The festival also pays tribute to the local heritage with theEspace Robert Doisneau, named in honor of the famous humanist photographer whose family came from this small village, where he spent his summers as a child and teenager.

A revolutionary artistic concept

GERMINATIONS will offer an immersive cultural experience in which sculptures, photographs, immersive installations, textile art and ecological design will mingle to create an unprecedented dialogue between collective memory and contemporary creation. "In a world in transition, GERMINATIONS sows seeds of dialogue, ecological awareness and shared beauty," says the organizing committee.

The program is designed to be rich and accessible, with exhibitions and installations in the village's four emblematic sites, open-air artistic performances, participatory workshops based on the five senses for all ages, an ephemeral art market with the sale of limited-edition works, the Prix Artistes Bio-inspirés, an original competition designed to reveal talents committed to sustainable creation, as well as thematic conferences and exchanges on contemporary ecological issues. The entire program is free and open to all.

An exemplary commitment to environmental responsibility

True to its values, GERMINATIONS will apply a strict eco-responsible charter: sustainable management of resources, use of recycled or reusable materials, short-range food supply, selective sorting and soft mobility. The festival will collaborate with local craftsmen, artists and associations to stimulate the local economy and promote regional know-how. This approach is in line with French ecological festivals, which are striving to make their events places of ecological transition.

Prestigious partnerships

GERMINATIONS enjoys the support of a network of leading partners including the Mairie de Raizeux and Rambouillet Territoires, Paris Design Week, the China Design Center in Paris, the International Association for Creative Skills and Practices (ISFPC) and the Association Hélium. These collaborations testify to the institutional recognition already enjoyed by this innovative project.

Easy access from Paris

The nearest train station is Gare d'Épernon, located 2 km from the village and served by TER Centre-Val de Loire trains running between Paris-Montparnasse and Chartres. Special shuttle buses will run throughout the festival, making this unique artistic experience just 45 minutes from Paris.

For heritage enthusiasts, the visit can include the small cemetery at Raizeux, where Robert Doisneau is buried alongside his wife, and the Château de Rambouillet, some 15 km away.

GERMINATIONS proposes a new approach to cultural mediation, where art dialogues directly with its natural environment," emphasizes the Organizing Committee. This pioneering festival paves the way for a more responsible approach to creation, one that is more in tune with the issues of our time, in an exceptional region that's well worth a visit.

In short, we're looking forward to seeing you at Raizeux (78125) in the Yvelines, 45 minutes from Paris via the Rambouillet train station and shuttle bus. All information and the full program are available on the official website.