Fête des Parcs et Jardins à Barbizon 2024

The Fête des Parcs & Jardins à Barbizon returns for its 3ᵉ edition on May 4 and 5, 2024. Located in the French Gâtinais Regional Nature Park, the village of Barbizon is renowned for its pre-impressionist painting school and bucolic setting. After 2 successful editions, the event returns with the theme"Parcourir l'Arbre".

Created in 2022 by Gérard Taponat, Mayor of Barbizon, the Fête des Parcs et Jardins aims to raise public and community awareness of the environment, the aesthetics of nature and the garden as a source of well-being.

Gardening professionals such as nurserymen, landscape gardeners, associations, local producers, artists and craftsmen will be on hand to help revitalize public spaces through the use of vegetation.

The third edition of this event is inspired by a poem by Andrée Chedid to raise awareness of the importance of trees and the urgent need to protect them, especially in the face of the growing threats posed by climate change. Activities and workshops will be organized over two days. Philippe Boiron, affiliated with Appel des Forêts and a tree-climbing specialist, will invite participants aged 6 and over to discover a medium-sized oak tree. For his part, Maxime Fauqueur, vice-president of the A.R.B.R.E.S. association, will lead an identification workshop and an exploration of trees in the Fontainebleau forest. A permaculture and composting workshop will also be offered to educate both urban and rural residents. Finally, Béatrice Rizzo, an agricultural engineer specializing in tree health, will share her expertise in tree care.

Various activities are planned for all, including lectures, workshops and guided tours. The town hall park is specially laid out for the occasion.

Several exhibitions and activities are organized around the theme of nature and art. Joss Blanchard, an artist specializing in tree portraits, will be exhibiting his works, which combine figuration and lyrical abstraction to celebrate our arboreal heritage. At the same time, nurserymen will be sharing their expertise in botany and gardening in the recently refurbished Parc de la Mairie, offering a wide range of plants and organizing events and workshops on the theme of "Parcourir l'Arbre".

Librairie Michel de Fontainebleau will be offering books on gardening and the environment. Caroline Cerdà will present experimental research on plants, exploring colors and contrasts. There will also be an exhibition on Théodore Rousseau, a precursor of environmental protection, at the Musée des peintres de Barbizon and the Petit Palais in Paris. Other sites, such as the Atelier Théodore Rousseau and the Bibliothèque municipale, will host art exhibitions and permaculture workshops. Finally, the Parc des Bosquets will be showcasing the art of gardens through exhibitions of sculptures and garden antiques, in a historic and natural setting.

The Barbizon Parks & Gardens Festival awaits you at the Barbizon Town Hall, 13 Grande-Rue. Admission is free for all visitors from 10am to 7pm. Free parking is available at Allée aux vaches in the state forest. In addition, catering options will be available on the event site and in the village.

The Fête des Parcs & Jardins à Barbizon 2024 is a unique opportunity for lovers of plants, nature and biodiversity. This convivial event, organized by the Barbizon town hall, is a chance to take a fresh look at this must-see tourist village in the Ile-de-France and typical of the Gâtinais region. Don't miss this third edition to discover local initiatives in favor of the environment and biodiversity.