Discover Bellegarde: Rose Gardens and History

Discover Bellegarde through its rose heritage, gardens and the history of the château. There are also cultural attractions and the Church of Notre-Dame. If you are looking for a hotel in Bellegarde, you can plan your stay around whether you are particularly interested in a walking route, garden culture or historical heritage. Each of these themes offers a different perspective on the town.

Château de Bellegarde: Keep, Grounds and Art

The keep of the Château de Bellegarde was rebuilt in stone after an earlier wooden structure and inaugurated in 1376 by King Charles V. The change from wood to stone marks a defining stage in the keep’s architectural history. The keep thus offers a distinct way to explore Bellegarde’s history.

The château grounds and gardens are open to visitors year-round free of charge, with a downloadable guide. This makes it possible to explore the outdoor areas independently. The château’s cultural heritage also includes the Desvergnes Collection in the Pavillon d’Antin: it comprises 46 original sculptures by Charles Desvergnes. The collection adds an artistic perspective to the building’s history.

Rose Gardens and Landscaped Plant Areas

The Bellegarde Rose Garden features more than 70 varieties of roses. The Jardin Jean-Jacques Malet features 300 plant species and varieties. The Rose Garden focuses on roses, while the Jardin Jean-Jacques Malet offers a different emphasis, with a wider variety of plant species and varieties.

A medieval-inspired garden includes an area with dye plants, medicinal plants and herbs, a Marian garden and an orchard. These themes range from the uses of specific plants to religious garden design and fruit growing. Those interested in garden culture will find more than just a rose display as a way to explore Bellegarde’s green heritage.

The Sentier de la Rose Walking Route

The Sentier de la Rose is an 8 km walking route between Bellegarde and Quiers-sur-Bezonde. It presents the region’s horticultural rose heritage. Unlike the gardens described above, this route between two places is the main focus. The 8 km distance gives you a clear point of reference when planning.

The château’s history can also be explored on a smartphone-based Wivisites tour that guides visitors through the history of the building. The walking route and the digital tour therefore appeal to different interests: one is a longer walk, while the other focuses on the château’s history. When choosing your hotel stay, you can consider which focus you would like to shape your trip around, without combining the two experiences into a single tour.

Church, Exhibitions and Foire aux Rosiers

The Church of Notre-Dame de Bellegarde can be visited free of charge throughout the year, either independently or as part of a guided town tour. It offers another sightseeing option, whether or not you focus on the château or the gardens.

Since 2015, the town council’s cultural service has presented free temporary summer exhibitions on the town’s history. The Foire aux Rosiers runs for three days and features more than 200 exhibitors. If you would like to plan your trip around an exhibition or the Foire aux Rosiers, check the specific event dates in advance. This helps distinguish time-specific events from visits to the château grounds and the church, which are possible year-round.

Plan Your Stay Around Your Interests

To choose between the attractions, consider their different formats: gardens and architectural history offer a different experience from an 8 km walking route, a smartphone-based tour or a time-specific event. Visits to the château and church are listed as available year-round; plan exhibitions and the Foire around their specific dates.

Discover more destinations: Combleux, Coullons, Beaulieu-Sur-Loire, Courtenay, Saint-Florent, Poilly-lez-Gien, Saran, La Bussière.

For the broader travel overview: Loiret.