To mark the 23rd edition of Rendez-vous aux jardins, a wide range of guided tours and activities will be free of charge for the weekend.
Programme: Rendez-vous au Jardin, 5–6 and 7 June 2026, as part of Rendez-vous aux jardins and National Agriculture Days.
- 5–6–7 June 2026: Exhibition: “Versailles: 400 Years of Plant Biology Research”
Discover ten agricultural scientists from the Versailles Grand Parc region whose work has made a significant mark on agricultural research, from Jean-Baptiste de La Quintinie, the creator of the Potager du Roi, whose 400th birthday we are celebrating, to Jean-Pierre Bourgin, a 20th-century scientist and pioneer of plant biotechnology.
Place: Potager du Roi – Jardin de la Figuerie.
- Saturday 6 June 2026, 3.30 pm to 4.30 pm: Lecture: ‘What do plants say through their scents? An introduction to olfactory botany’
By Giulio Giorgi, landscape architect, ecologist and agricultural engineer, and Olivier R. P. David, Professor of Chemistry, University of Versailles.
What do plants really smell? How do they use scents to attract insects, protect themselves, react to their environment and interact with humans? This lecture invites you to discover the essential role of scents in plant life, but also in our own perception of plants, exploring the interplay between memory, emotion, uses and sensations. Giulio Giorgi and Olivier David will present the main themes of the book ‘Botanique Olfactive’, combining a botanical approach, a scientific perspective and sensory experience. The lecture will also provide an opportunity to explore an olfactory herbarium, as well as a suggested sensory trail through the Potager du Roi to appreciate the scents of spring. Following the event, Giulio Giorgi will be signing copies of his book for the public.
Place: Potager du Roi – La Figuerie building – amphitheatre
- Sunday 7 June, 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm: Workshop: ‘The King’s Kitchen Garden under the microscope’
Suitable for all ages from 5 years old
Scientists from the Observatoire du Végétal (Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin - Plant Sciences, INRAE-AgroParisTech) will guide young and old observers alike as they discover the plants of the Potager du Roi under the microscope. As an added bonus, olfactory and tactile activities will put the senses to the test.
Place: Potager du Roi – La Figuerie building – Potager room.
