From June 6 to 8, 2025, the beloved event Rendez-vous aux jardins or Meeting in the Gardens, returns for its 22nd edition under the enchanting theme “Gardens of Stone, Stones of the Garden.” Organized by France’s Ministry of Culture, this celebration of garden art brings together more than 2,000 public and private gardens across France and nearly 600 gardens in around 20 other European countries.

This year’s theme invites visitors to explore the vital and poetic role of stone in garden design. From ancient dry-stone walls, paving, and terraced restanques to decorative rockeries, artificial grottos, and rustic garden furniture, stone is honored as both a structural and aesthetic element of the landscape. These mineral features shape, support, and embellish outdoor spaces, connecting history, nature, and craftsmanship in lasting harmony.

For one weekend only, the public is offered rare access to private gardens typically closed to visitors, alongside beloved public parks presented in a new light. The program includes guided tours, workshops, artisanal demonstrations, and meetings with gardeners. Activities designed specifically for children ensure the event is family-friendly, while others highlight ecological transition, including the interactive “2 Tonnes” workshops that educate participants on climate-conscious actions.

A particularly exciting feature of the event is the curated selection of “not-to-miss” gardens. These include protected historical sites, gardens that directly reflect this year’s stone-themed motif, and regional “favorites” highlighted for their beauty or cultural significance. Many of these spaces incorporate features such as faux ruins and ornamental grottos—popular in 18th-century garden design—and modern reinterpretations of Asian stone gardens, which have deeply influenced Western landscaping aesthetics.

Since 2018, Rendez-vous aux jardins has expanded into a pan-European celebration of horticultural heritage. In 2024, over 600 gardens across countries like Germany, Spain, Italy, Romania, and Portugal joined the event with shared themes and visuals. This year, Austria and Finland join the growing list, with Finland participating on July 6 due to seasonal differences.

Cross-border regions are especially encouraged to create collaborative circuits that showcase shared cultural heritage. This effort is supported by HEREIN, a unique European network initiated by the Council of Europe in 2001 to promote cooperation in cultural heritage policies and practices. The influence of Chinese and Japanese gardens—particularly the symbolic use of upright stones—will also be explored in this edition, reminding us of the universal language of gardens.

Finally, the presence of stone in cemeteries, statues, benches, and even in gravel pathways or repurposed quarries underscores its timeless connection to the landscape. Techniques like rocaillage—mimicking wood using cement—recall the 19th-century fascination with alpine-style gardens and remain part of French garden heritage today.

Whether you are a lover of nature, history, or design, Rendez-vous aux jardins 2025 offers a rare opportunity to experience the rich cultural tapestry of European gardens—woven this year with the enduring strength and beauty of stone.