Le parc du château de Montigny-sur-Aube

Like all aristocratic residences, the Château de Montigny-sur-Aube in the 19th century boasted a superb walled orchard and vegetable garden covering 5,244 m2 - a veritable food garden - where several hundred varieties of fruit, planted in espaliers of various shapes or in counter-espaliers, cleverly cover all the 3.60 m high walls and ironwork arches. At the centre of a cross of paths is the gardener's pond with its beautiful Renaissance fountain, and in front of the melliferous garden is a superb 19th-century apiary where the pollinating bees are busy. As for the vegetable gardens, in season you'll discover more than a hundred varieties of tomato in teepees amid squares of marigolds, and in the chassis garden a whole collection of aromatic plants that provide the farmhouse kitchen with incomparable flavours. As for the red fruit gardens, amidst the quarter-stem plum trees, you'll discover mulberry and raspberry bushes well tamed in their ironwork crates. The team of gardeners are passionate about perpetuating this 19th-century know-how, and will tell you all about it as you go along, thanks to the audio guide. There's even a model at the back of the apiary explaining the principles behind it. At certain times of the year, this unique site also hosts pruning and grafting courses for the general public (registration required). An exceptional place for an unforgettable experience, with the Vignobles et Découvertes and Bienvenue à la ferme labels.

Have lunch at the château's farmhouse inn, where the chef will offer you his "Coffret Fraîcheur" (fresh produce box) made from our harvested fruit and vegetables, his "Dessert du Jour" (dessert of the day) and his sorbets, on the terrace or in the orangery. We advise you to book in advance at www.chateaudemontigny.com "Prepare your visit".