News of l'Echappee Belle and its area

In May, the iris bloom in Gien
In May, the great iris producer Cayeux located in Poilly lez Gien opens its doors to you to admire the blooming of its irises.

Classic or modern creations, small or great, early or late, reflowering or not, you will discover the rich variety of this magnificent flower. A real firework display of colours.

You will also have the opportunity to buy some on the spot if you wish.

In 2021, the Gien earthenware factory celebrated its 200th anniversary. To celebrate this event, the museum was modernised and enlarged and reopened on 29 April 2022.
To find out all about its history and the secrets behind the production of this faience, take a tour via Gien and the faience factory.
And if you want to take home a souvenir from the region, the factory shop is nearby.

The Saint-Brisson sur Loire Castle offers night-time events in the spring and during the summer months.

First of all, on 14 May 2022, for the European Night of Museums, an exceptional candlelight visit with the possibility of a complementary visit to the private parts.

Aperitif in the Castle on Saturday evenings from 18 June to 28 August, with the exception of 2 July. From 7pm to 11:45pm, music, wine and local products to taste.

On July 2nd, on the occasion of the annual festival of the Saint Brisson sur Loire Castle with its producers' market, in the evening, a theatrical visit by candlelight.

On August 12, for the "Night of the Stars", visit of the castle in the dark and silence. Then an evening of observation on the deckchairs in front of the castle.

As every year, Sully sur Loire hosts the Historical Hours.

More than 1000 people in costume evoke history, from the Middle Ages to the Vietnam War.

A real journey through time around the castle of Sully.

Parades, re-enactments, demonstrations, but also market and shows.

Take advantage of the guided tours of the Saint Benoit sur Loire abbey to discover this beautiful site of Romanesque art.

They will take place on 26 and 27 May, 8 and 15 July, 19 and 24 August, 2 September, at 3.30 pm.

But also the visits "In the footsteps of Max Jacob" on May 1st, July 29th, August 10th at 10 am to see the places where the poet Max Jacob lived from 1921 to his arrest in 1944.

The 6€ for the guided tour also includes entrance to the "Belvedere", a Romanesque art interpretation complex.

This is an original event, near L'Echappée Belle.
In Lion en Sullias, every last Sunday of May, the Acacia Flower Doughnut Festival is held.

Come and try this speciality and discover that honey is not the only purpose of this delicate flower.
There will also be concerts, a flea market, entertainment and a guided tour of the town.

Nature lovers have plenty to look forward to in the Loiret with magnificent parks and arboretum to visit.
But Loiret is also known for its Roses and a tourist route is dedicated to them.
L'Echappée Belle, with its rose garden, is one of the accommodations listed on this Route.

Roses are present from May to October but the best time to admire the greatest number of roses is between the end of May and June.
Numerous parks, rose gardens, rose gardeners... welcome you and present their most beautiful roses. And as at the table d'hôtes of L'Echappée Belle, the rose is present in the menus of the restaurants along the route.

On 11 and 12 June, "La Route de la Rose en fête" with activities and guided tours in the gardens along the route.

The music festival in Sully sur Loire (which also takes place in the surrounding towns) will take place from 2 to 26 June.

Every year, internationally renowned artists of all styles perform in the Loiret (in 2021, Compay Segundo, Gautier Capuçon, Joachim Horsley, Electro Deluxe among others)
This year: Diva Opera, Claire-Marie Le Guay, Michel Portal, Geneviève Laurenceau & David Kadouch...

In Gien on 11 June, accordion/guitar concert with Félicien Brut and Thibaut Garcia.

The full 2022 programme and bookings here.

From 3 to 5 June 2022, in France, the "Rendez-vous aux jardins" will take place. This is an opportunity to discover the many parks and gardens in the region by taking advantage of special events during the weekend.

You can also take advantage of the advice of gardeners or owners who will also be present for these days.

Among others, on 4 and 5 June from 10am to 12pm and from 2pm to 6pm, guided tours of the personal garden of André Eve, the famous rose gardener, or activities at the Château de la Bussière.

The Wine Fair is back in the beautiful village of Sancerre. Take advantage of this event to visit but also to taste. You buy a glass at 5€ and you can go from stand to stand to taste the wines of the different producers. With moderation, of course.

This exhibition will run from 25 June to 18 September at the Château-musée de la Chasse in Gien on the occasion of the museum's 70th anniversary and the 500th birthday of Anne de Beaujeu.

Conferences on this great historical figure will also take place.

From 9 July to 31 October 2022, while visiting the castle of Sully sur Loire, you can enjoy the "Legacy" exhibition. After having spoiled us with the Doisneau and the Loire exhibition, it is now the turn of Yann Arthus-Bertrand's photographs to be exhibited.
And access is included in the price of the visit to the castle.

From 15 to 17 July, Aubigny sur Nère organises the Franco-Scottish festival. Parades and Pipe Band competition, Highland games, medieval market, fireworks...

This piece of French territory was for a few centuries a Scottish enclave.

The King of France gave it to the Stuarts in gratitude for their contribution to the war against the English.

This history is fascinating and you can discover it thanks to the Exhibition at the Stuart Castle in Aubigny.

Also on 16 and 17 July, opposite the Colette museum, the potters' fair takes place in Saint Sauveur en Puisaye, not far from the Saint Fargeau castle.

More than 70 exhibitors are waiting for you on these lands where pottery has a long history.

Take a tour of the town of Saint-Amand-en-Puisaye, renowned since the 14th century for the quality of its pottery thanks to its exceptional clay soil.

On July 30th, as every year for the last 50 years, the international fireworks manufacturer Ruggieri will offer us a magnificent show above the Briare Canal in Rogny les Sept Ecluses.

45 minutes to dazzle you in a family and friendly atmosphere. You can enjoy the site before the show, eat on site or take a picnic to enjoy on the grass by the water.

Take advantage of this open cellar weekend to go to Menetou Salon and meet the producers, visit their cellars and taste their wines.

There is a choice of traditional or modern cellars, such as the one pictured here, which is brand new, from the producer who supplies L'Echappée Belle: Fraiseau-Leclerc.

The beautiful Château de Menetou Salon, on the Route Jacques Coeur, will also be open for visits during this weekend and will offer you a tasting!

On Saturday 20 August, meet at the Briare canal bridge for an original day.
From 10am to 7pm, 2 cycling routes will be offered: a treasure hunt or a route with artistic stages.
From 7pm to midnight, a Guinguette evening with a pig on a spit, refreshments, music and entertainment.
And from L'Echappée Belle, you can reach the bridge by cycling 7km along the Loire trail.

15 minutes from L'Echappée Belle, in the charming little town of Argent sur Sauldre, there are two dates to remember as part of the Musical September in Argent. On Sunday 11th September at 4pm, Anna Göckel on violin and Guillaume Bellom on piano will perform Beethoven, Schoenberg and Schubert. On Sunday 25 September at 4pm, the Mikrokosmos Choir will perform their show "Le Jour m'étonne" (The Day Surprises Me) which will take you to the heart of choral art with a selection of varied and revisited works by great composers of all periods and styles.

Ln 17 and 18 September, many events are taking place in the area. Animations, conferences, open doors, thematic guided tours, private castles exceptionally opened to the visit...

An opportunity for you to immerse yourself in the rich history of the region.

Some examples of exceptional events: unusual visits to the Bussière Castle, guided visits to the National Arboretum of Les Barres, guided visits to the personal garden of André Eve, famous French rose grower...

Every year, this walk is organised so that you can walk in the forest, collect chestnuts if you wish and enjoy a convivial moment at the end of this walk by tasting roasted chestnuts and the glass of friendship.
This year, the departure will be at 2pm from Saint Benoit sur Loire.

In 2022, Bourges Cathedral celebrates its 30th anniversary as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At the end of this year, celebrations will take place such as concerts, exhibitions...

But Bourges is also a very beautiful historical city to visit, not to mention the Jacques Coeur palace to learn a little more about this historical figure to whom a L'Echappée Belle guest room is dedicated.

IIn December, L'Échappée Belle will be in Christmas mood with its decorations, chocolates available for guests and, above all, its village of santons. As a native of Provence, I am pursuing the tradition!

This will be an opportunity for you to visit the Christmas markets, including those of Gien from 17 to 26 December, St Martin sur Ocre on 11 December, Châtillon/Loire on 18 December. But also to take advantage of the "Christmas at the castle" animations at La Bussière from December 4th onwards during the weekends and during the school holidays.

If you stay during the Easter holidays in L'Échappée Belle, you will enjoy the reopening of many castles and parks. The beautiful days are back!

And for the Easter weekend, there are many activities on the agenda. Guided tours, egg hunts...

And for the "grown-up kids" that you are, some surprises will be waiting for you at L'Echappée Belle.