Chédigny, the garden village in Sud-Touraine

This postcard image was born out of the desire of the nearly 600 inhabitants to "live better together". With a very dense associative fabric, ideas are not lacking. Nor the goodwill ready to invest. But how to attract visitors without costly investments, how to calm traffic without closing the streets? The idea of the former mayor, Pierre Louault, of transforming the village into a vast garden was perfect: the different plants embellish the facades, the gardens and the courtyards, which earned the award of the “Remarkable Garden” label to the entire village.

Which is unique in France. To fully enjoy the surroundings, visitors prefer to leave their cars in the parking lot, but residents of the main street can always drive home.

With more than 1000 roses of 250 varieties, Chédigny is probably one of the most beautiful, and unusual, rose gardens. Some 3000 perennials add their colors. To ensure the residents' adherence to this floral project, to manage the harmony of all these plantations, it is the municipality that takes care of the rose bushes, their maintenance and their pruning.

Not everyone has the desire, the tools or the knowledge to care for flowers! The municipality also intervenes for the rose bushes visible from the street.

This transformation of the village was made possible due to restructuring work in the village with the burying of the various networks. As the work progressed, the sidewalks were no longer paved but became areas of flowers.

This passion for plants is deeply rooted in Chédigny: in recent years, a magnificent priest's garden has blossomed behind the church and the presbytery.

A beautiful project which also made it possible to save the presbytery, a beautiful 18th century building.

The intervention of consultants and experts has made it possible to create this place which is as beautiful as it is educational (internships are regularly offered) where you can find perennial and annual plants such as medicinal and aromatic plants, shrubs and fruit trees. Following the alleys, visitors discover the square of the apothecary, the garden of the cross, the sacred grove, the liturgical garden or the vegetable garden.

And, of course, roses ... With the help of "Roses Anciennes André Eve", a new rose bush has just been created: "La petite coquine de Chédigny", a shrub rose with arched, reddish-brown branches.

This is the third rose bush created for Chédigny. The first, Jeanne de Chédigny, pays homage to the dean, Jeanne Louault, recognized, with her husband, "Just of France" for having lodged Jews during the last war.

Festivals and plant fairs, gardening courses, open doors at artists' homes punctuate the year of the garden village. The last weekend of May, the Roses de Chédigny Association invites to its festival, with the presence of rose growers, nurserymen, artists, musicians. It’s cheerful and festive, sure, but it’s much more romantic and enchanting without the crowds of visitors.