Have you heard of Rendez-vous aux Jardins, the event that invites groups of friends and families to the parks and gardens of Île-de-France? They’re back for a new edition, from June 5–7, 2026, ready to showcase the region’s finest green spaces, right in the heart of towns or palaces! Between guided and quirky tours, tasty break spots and a host of activities, come fall in love with nature!
A park emblematic of Anglo-Chinese gardens, the Domaine Départemental de Méréville was part of the boom in picturesque gardens at the end of the Age of Enlightenment. It reveals the new aesthetic that was sweeping Europe at the time, marking a break with the regular gardens created by English landscape gardener Thomas Blaikie for the Duke of Harcourt.
From the river, to the fabriques, to the riprap, this exceptional garden tells the story of man's relationship with sublime nature. The estate is also famous for its Chinese pavilion, listed as a historic monument in 1946. The estate went through a period of decline, damaged after the French Revolution, but was restored during the 20th century.
Free visit to the Méréville Departmental Estate
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Iconic among the so-called picturesque or Anglo-Chinese gardens, the Méréville park was conceived at the end of the 18th century. As early as 1784, the Marquis de Laborde, owner and actively involved patron, surrounded himself with the era’s fashionable artists to design his gardens. The architect François-Joseph Bélanger reshapes the site’s paisaje, followed by the painter Hubert Robert, who completes the initial project by creating “natural tableaux” aimed at reconstituting an idealized nature. For a decade, up to 400 workers contributed to this colossal undertaking. The overall layout of the site and many foundational elements (the river, bridges and islands, caves and rockwork, etc.) have endured over time, making the Méréville estate one of the rare remaining witnesses of this garden style.
Owned by the Essonne Department Council since 2000, the Méréville estate has undergone several restoration campaigns. It has been open to the public since 2018.
A Different Look by Hubert Robert
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In 1786, the “painter of ruins,” Hubert Robert, is summoned by the Marquis de Laborde to carry on the design of the Méréville park, following F.-J. Bélanger. From that moment, he produces a series of canvases that present views of the garden. To mark the 240th anniversary of the artist’s arrival at Méréville, his paintings are once again placed within the landscape to guide our gaze and help us recapture the eighteenth‑century framing.
Installation: Colors in the Vegetable Garden
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Rediscover the majestic grounds of the Domaine's vegetable garden with a splash of blooming meadows. Poetic, vibrant, and drawing in a host of pollinators, this seasonal display will delight visitors of all ages!
Location: Domaine's Vegetable Garden
The Grand Waterfall
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Ongoing
The 18th-century hydraulic system, still in operation to feed the grand cascade, is activated on special occasions to deliver a visual and sound spectacle. Relive the emotions of visitors of yesteryear, amazed and captivated by the beauty and the awe-inspiring power of its bubbling torrents.
Weather permitting
In partnership with the SIARJA
Exhibition: The Metamorphoses of the Château: When the Past Shapes the Future
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The exhibition The Metamorphoses of the Château: When the Past Shapes the Future invites visitors to rediscover the garden’s main feature. Through the centuries and under the influence of its owners, the château has undergone transformations, endured a golden age, and faced decline. The ambitious restoration campaign currently underway offers a chance to delve into both the history and the present life of this uniquely fate-driven building. Also on display for the first time are reproductions of wallpapers that once adorned the château’s interiors in the eighteenth century.
Location: Orangery of the Estate
In partnership with the Sud Essonne Historical and Archaeological Society, Canton of Méréville
A historical and scenic stroll
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Set off to discover one of the last preserved examples of the picturesque garden in Europe, where nature, elevated by human touch, reigns supreme. Meet the Marquis de Laborde, the wealthy patron; François-Joseph Bélanger, the architect who reshaped the park’s character; and Hubert Robert, the painter who molded nature as if painting a canvas.
In partnership with the Agglomeration Community of Étampois Sud-Essonne
Unconventional sunset tour
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Have you ever noticed how landscapes evolve not only with the seasons but as the day goes on? This poetic and offbeat walk will guide you through Méréville Park by the glow of the last sunbeams, which wash the mills, the greenery, and the rock faces in warm hues, lending them an air of mystery…
In partnership with the Agglomeration Community of Étampois Sud-Essonne
Free access to caves and rock outcrops
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Did you know that Méréville has the highest concentration of rock outcrops in the best possible condition, outpacing gardens across Europe? After years of closure, rediscover the Domaine de Méréville during the Rendez-vous aux Jardins: the dairy, the grand rock and its waterfall, the covered path on the Temple Hill, and more. These stunning caves and rock outcrops will be open to visitors for free on this special occasion. A detour well worth taking.
Tethered hot-air balloon flight: See the garden from a fresh angle!
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Think you know the grounds of Méréville—its park, its follies and its lakes? How about rising above it all to rediscover them from a new height with a 5-minute tethered balloon ride? In groups of two or three, climb into the basket and seize this rare chance to soak in a 360-degree view.
For safety and comfort reasons, the basket is unfortunately not accessible to pregnant women, people with heart conditions or reduced mobility, and children under six.
Activity subject to favorable weather conditions
Scavenger hunt: The kitchen garden relocates
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Travel back to 1791, when the Marquis de Laborde decides to create a new kitchen garden. It’s the moment for Natalie de Laborde to invite the Friends of the Estate to join a scavenger hunt in which players will have to find, among other things, plants scattered throughout the estate’s former workshops.
Questions, games, a clear throughline... a scavenger hunt that will reveal the estate’s old workshops to you!
In partnership with the Friends of the Domaine de Méréville association
Show: Impromptu Visits, by Scena Nostra
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The Scena Nostra theatre company, in residence in the metropolitan area for the third year, will present three Impromptu Visits, including one at the Domaine. Through this production crafted especially for the occasion, Scena Nostra invites you on a journey full of surprises and humor.
In partnership with the Étampois Sud-Essonne Agglomeration Community
Floating concert by Duo Movere and the bubble piano from Le pianO du lac
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Le pianO du lac teams up with Duo Movere for an operatic, spellbinding show on the grand lake! Duo Movere was born from the meeting of mezzo-soprano Éloïse Cénac-Morthé and pianist Nicolas Mialocq in Berlin. Coming from different worlds—opera for Éloïse, jazz and classical for Nicolas—they share a common musical vision. Together, they explore the classical repertoire on a floating piano, and reinterpret French and contemporary pieces, from Barbara to John Lennon.
Demonstration: Takeoff of a hot air balloon
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After seeing the Domaine from above thanks to the tethered balloon, you’re invited to a one‑of‑a‑kind experience: a demonstration of a hot air balloon taking flight. From setting up the basket to deploying the balloon and inflating it with hot air, discover every step of the preparation and then witness its magical takeoff!
In partnership with the Cirrus association
Dates and Opening Time
From June 6, 2026 to June 7, 2026
Location
Domaine de Méréville
Domaine départemental de Méréville
91660 Mereville
Prices
Free
