The Loiret Rose Road

The Loiret Rose Route is a tourist itinerary that allows you to discover magnificent parks and rose gardens, as well as rose growers, restaurants and lodgings (L'Echappée Belle B&B) that pay homage to the rose.

It will be of interest to rose lovers as well as novices, nature lovers and perfume lovers!

As you can see on the map, the Rose Route crosses the whole of the Loiret.

Why a Rose Route in this department? The history of the rose dates back to the Middle Ages, when roses were cultivated by collecting wild rose bushes, which can still be found in the forest of Orléans. There are traces of nurseries from the 18th century and the Bellegarde basin is the third largest in France for rose production. But I haven't told you everything, the Rose Route will tell you much more!

Among the sites on the Loiret Rose Route are castles with rose-flowered gardens: the Chamerolles Castle and its perfume museum, the Bussière Castle and its remarkable garden with a flowering vegetable garden of the 18th century.

And, of course, parks and rose gardens: the Javelière Manor Park and its national conservatory of botanical roses, the Grandes Bruyères Arboretum and its rose garden.
But also two of my favourite rose gardens. First, in Meung sur Loire, the Jardins de Roquelin, an incredible English garden where roses are magnified. It must be said that its owner is a passionate person who worked for André Eve.

The latter was a great rose grower based in Pithiviers (his personal garden is also part of the Rose Road) and created my second favourite site: the Roseraie de Morailles, in the photo. Situated near Pithiviers, this magnificent rose garden served as a showcase for the roses created and sold by André Eve. It displays the characteristics of the gardens he designed: a winding grass path leads through the various rose beds, mainly combined with perennials. A few shrubs, a few trees and structures, all designed to enhance the roses in harmony with the perennials.

When to visit the Rose Road? From May to October, with the peak from mid-May to the end of June if you want to enjoy the once-a-year roses.

In addition, many events take place during this flowering period, such as the Bellegarde Rose Fair during the Easter weekend, the Rose Road Day at the end of May, the International Rose Competition at the Jardin des Plantes d'Orléans in mid-September...You can consult the Loiret tourist news page here.

Do you know...?

- A little more history: the famous medieval text " Roman de la Rose " was written by Guillaume de Lorris. Lorris is a small medieval town in the Loiret region of France, located 25 minutes from L'Échappée Belle Bed and Breakfast.

- L'Echappée Belle B&B, for its garden of old roses, has been selected to be part of the Rose Road of the Loiret as a hosting partner. In the garden, you will find more than 50 varieties of roses with their names indicated. But you can also taste rose-based specialities at the table d'hôtes!

- The oldest rose tree in the world is located in Hildesheim, Germany. It is called a thousand-year-old rose, but it is actually several hundred years old.

If you are interested and want to know more about the creation and cultivation of roses, guided tours are organised in André Eve's personal garden. In addition, the growers on the Rose Road of the Loiret will be happy to answer your questions.

Webite Loiret Rose Road

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