Le verger et la roseraie du Relais de Poste aux Chevaux

The collection of old roses of the Ardennes heritage is the result of 10 years of prospecting by J.C Nicolas (1992-2002), a specialist in old roses who listed 164 roses in the 519 Ardennes cemeteries of the 503 villages of the department. 28 varieties were found and saved (first put back in condition in the Drôme, then repatriated when the Roseraie du Patrimoine was created) The collection was planted in the fall of 2003 in the former Relais de Poste aux Chevaux et des Messagerie Royales dating from the 17th century, a parish enclosure, in Launois-sur-Vence in the center of the department. The heritage rose garden bloomed for the first time in June 2004 and was officially inaugurated on the 19th of that month, within the framework of the 29th Regional Festival of Art and Creation Trades in the presence of the president of the Regional Council of Champagne-Ardennes. In 2005, within the framework of the Pays des Crêtes, 25 saved varieties were planted to mark out an itinerary of the heritage, 12 communes bloomed, here a parish enclosure, there a calvary or a fountain, with varieties already installed, here in Launois. Among the roses found with the greatest frequency, we note: Rosa alba simplex, Rosa alba plena, "Rosa alba rosea", "Rosa gallica officinalis", "Rose de Resht", "Pompon de Bourgogne", "Rosa centifolia", "Little Wite Pet", "Blush Noisette", "Old Blush", "Marie Pavie". Others are totally unknown to the public, even the informed ones, and since it is impossible to find their identity, they have been given the name of their Ardennes village, such as the roses of Fléville, Cernion, Liart, Villers-Semeuse, Condé les Autry, Mouzon, Remilly-les-Pothées, Saint Pierremont, Villers-le-Tourneur, Laval-Dieu, Maimby, Monthois, Remonville. The work done for the research is the result of a collaboration between Mr. Nicolas and the Amicale des Jardiniers Ardennais, the Amicale maintains today the rose garden with the help of Mr. Forgeard, nurseryman in Saint-Lambert-et-Mont-de-Jeux. Near this conservatory garden, it is also possible to visit the conservatory orchard, with nearly 70 local varieties of fruit trees. This orchard is the result of a project by students of the IUT of Charleville-Mézières, which aims to safeguard part of the fruit heritage of the Ardennes. There are local varieties of cherries, plums, apples, pears, nuts, each variety is now identified and its usefulness is indicated on a plate planted at the foot of the tree. The work of identification and maintenance of the orchard is the responsibility of the volunteers of the association Croq'Ardennes, Ardennes section of Croqueurs de Pommes.

DATAtourisme France