Rendez-vous aux jardins 2025. Stone Gardens – Garden Stones
Rendez-vous aux jardins is an initiative of the French Ministry of Culture, now in its 22nd edition, inviting visitors to explore some of the most beautiful historic gardens in Europe. Today, the event includes over 2,000 gardens across France and around 20 other European countries.
This year’s theme – Stone Gardens – Garden Stones – focuses on the role of stone as a fundamental element in garden design. From structural inspiration to decorative features and biodiversity habitats, stone plays a key role in shaping the landscapes we explore.
In Sintra, don’t miss two special guided tours: one at the Park of Monserrate and another at the Gardens of the National Palace of Queluz.
Guided Tour to the Gardens of Monserrate– ‘Stone in the Romantic Garden’
Beyond the lush green of the trees, the vibrant colours of the flowers, and the flowing water that accompanies our paths, stone is another crucial presence in the garden. It lies hidden beneath our feet, part of the geology of the Hills and the paving we walk on. It appears in ornamental garden structures, ancient water mines that provide shelter for wildlife, and in the waterfalls that echo the sounds of faraway places.
Date: 07/06/2025 – 10 am
Duration: 1 hour
Meeting point: Entrance of the Park of Monserrate
Price: 1€ (includes palace entry)
Accessibility: Route not accessible
Guided Tour to the Gardens of the Palace of Queluz – ‘Discovering Stone in the Garden’
Gardens are more than just plants. Stone is a constant element – present in the statues that tell stories from the past, the basins that frame the water features, and the rocaille constructions inspired by French design that surround the Palace of Queluz. This tour explores the history of the garden, designed in the 18th century as a leisure estate, highlighting the material that lends it both structure and timelessness: stone.
Date: 07/06/2025 – 3 pm
Duration: 1 hour
Meeting point: Entrance to the Palace of Queluz
Price: 1€ (palace entry not included)
Accessibility: Accessible route