Cultural tourism and garden art meet in Le Mans each October through a format of private courtyards and opened gardens. Entre Cours et Jardins 2026 runs on 10 and 11 October and deploys visits across the historic Cité Plantagenêt and neighbouring green spaces.
Background and edition format
The association Entre Cours et Jardins was established in 2007 and stages the 18th edition of the Fête des Plantes et de l’Art au Jardin in 2026. The group brings together about one hundred members and organizes three main events per year. For the October celebration roughly fifty private garden owners open their courtyards and hidden gardens to visitors, creating route-based visits and direct exchanges with owners.
Practical information and locations
Official dates: 10–11 October 2026. Activities take place across the historic centre of Le Mans, notably the Cité Plantagenêt and surrounding gardens. The association’s contact address is 6, rue Saint-Hilaire, 72000 Le Mans and the email is entrecoursetjardins@gmail.com.
What to expect on site
The event blends secret garden visits with botanical surprises and small-scale cultural actions. Recurring names in the association’s offering include Le jardin des simples, Le potagenêt and Surprises botaniques. The association also runs workshops and botanical chronicles during the year and works with local artists and garden specialists.
B2B outreach and engagement routes for operators
Tour operators, nurseries and craftspeople focused on gardens have several practical routes to engage. The association handles sponsorship and patronage structures with fiscal benefits under its mécénat framework. Membership costs 30 euros and includes invitations to the secret garden visits. Practical steps for companies:
- Propose targeted workshops or live demonstrations for cultural tourists and weekend visitors.
- Design combined visitor packages that pair guided tours of the Cité Plantagenêt with local products.
- Explore sponsorship of themed activities using the association’s patronage mechanisms and related tax advantages.
The association’s website explains membership and sponsorship procedures in detail.
Numbers and governance
Edition: 18th. Year of foundation: 2007. Structure: about one hundred members and roughly fifty private gardens opened annually. The board lists Josiane Couasnon as honorary president and Aileen Sharpe as president among other communication and garden coordinators.
For cultural-tourism businesses the practical recommendation is to prepare a localized offer in workshop or guided-visit format that leverages the intimate and narrative nature of private gardens. Check program details and participation conditions at the official site http://www.entrecoursetjardins.com and reach out to the association to schedule proposals.
