21st "Rendez-vous aux jardins" - theme: "5 senses in the garden".

Every year, the Château d'Ainay-le-Vieil joins forces with the French Ministry of Culture to open its gardens. The theme chosen for this ^21st edition, "The Five Senses in the Garden ", offers an opportunity to (re)discover the gardens through hearing, smell, touch, sight and taste.

Château d'Ainay-le-Vieil offers an introductory walk through its gardens:

• The rose garden: the sense of smell
• Beehives: taste - honey
• Allée des poètes: hearing - birds
• Le cloître des simples: touch - forest bathing
• Perspective of the island square: the view - a frame.

We'll also be offering a tour of the gardens by the owners.

Entertainment

THE TOUCH: the forest bath

Forest bathing or shinrin yoku (in Japanese) means connecting with nature through our five senses (touch, hearing, sight, smell, taste) and improving our well-being by walking in nature. It's a biological need that has contributed to our survival for millennia. We're going to recreate this bridge between ourselves and the natural world. For Buddhists, the forest is the realm of the divine.
Shizen (nature) refers to the idea of our connection with nature emotionally, spiritually and physically.
JUST FEEL, REFOCUS

Château d'Ainay-le-Vieil and Evelyne BENENTENDI (DPLG landscape architect, watercolorist, Buddhist and aromatherapist) offer a one-hour Forest Bath.
Meet at the Château Boutique.
First, a break with relaxation and mindful breathing to connect with yourself, nature and the elements.
Then a short, slow walk in silence to open up all your senses to the gardens, to really look, really hear, really smell and really touch while being centered in yourself.
Finally, choose a tree that appeals to you. Place your hands on the trunk of a tree, encircle the trunk, place your cheek on it, smell it, listen to it, talk to it... it will answer you.
Finally, a presentation of essential oils from Japanese conifers to extend the forest bath at home.

Evelyne also invites you to join her in Lignières (18160) for Forest Baths from July 14 to August 15, 2024. Information from the Tourist Office.

TASTE: Beekeeping

Mr Riou, beekeeper, will share his experience.
Presentations: Saturday and Sunday, 3 pm to 5 pm

HEARING: birdsong

Birds play an important role in the gardens of Château d'Ainay-le-Vieil. We're lucky enough to hear them sing, and have installed a number of nest boxes along the "Allée des poètes".
Intervention: Saturday at 10 a.m.

L'ODORAT: the rose garden and gardens

Owner Hervé Borne will take you on an exceptional tour of the gardens and rose garden.
Intervention: Saturday at 4 pm

But also :
On Saturday May 1, La Volière restaurant invites you to an exceptional tasting workshop. Don't hesitate to try it!