The history of the Jardin des Cimes began within a well-known charity in the Mont Blanc region: the En Passant par la Montagne charity.
This association, founded in 1995 by mountaineer Marc Batard, offers young people and adults facing social difficulties (social exclusion, academic failure, delinquency, disability, etc.) trips, training courses and activities in which the mountains serve as a vehicle for inclusion, integration and education.
The idea of creating a garden in the Mont Blanc region was initially conceived with a social objective in mind by the association’s trustees, as an activity close to nature that would enable vulnerable young people to live and settle in the valley.
In 2005, Damien Girardier and Edwige Lepelletier, employees of the association En Passant par la Montagne, set up SCIC Champ des Cimes, a social integration enterprise specialising in landscaping, with the aim of using it to create a garden serving cultural, tourist and educational purposes, thereby meeting a need for social support through the employment of people on vocational integration schemes.
Furthermore, the Passy town council, through its mayor at the time, Mr Yves Tissot, was seeking an initiative to revitalise the village of Plateau d’Assy. Indeed, this village developed in the early 20th century around sanatoriums and the treatment of tuberculosis. From the 1960s onwards, the establishments shifted towards other types of care, and by the end of the century were encouraged to relocate their activities to the valley, closer to transport networks and urban centres. The 21st century saw the definitive end of the village’s medical vocation.
It was from this collaboration between Passy Town Hall and SCIC Champ des Cimes that the idea of a garden on the Plateau d’Assy took shape.
The Atelier agency, comprising landscape architect Bruno Marmiroli and gardener Patrick Genty, designed the layout of the Jardin des Cimes, giving it its unique character: adopting a resolutely artistic approach whilst taking the mountains as its subject. The site chosen for the Jardin des Cimes is a meadow situated above the village of Plateau d’Assy, on land n
SCIC Champ des Cimes is responsible for running the Jardin des Cimes under a long-term lease signed with Passy Town Hall. As such, it manages the Jardin des Cimes’ activities until 2012, which include garden maintenance, educational activities for groups of children, a small refreshment area and a small shop.
The Jardin des Cimes association was founded in 2011 with the initial aim of taking over the educational activities at the Jardin des Cimes and developing a cultural programme.
In 2013, it took over the full running of the site, focusing on five areas of activity: the development and maintenance of the gardens, educational activities, the cultural programme, the shop, and the Café du Jardin restaurant (which was operated under contract from 2013 to 2016 before becoming a fully integrated part of the association’s activities in 2017). Since then, a tripartite agreement on sub-delegation and management has been signed between the association, SCIC Champ des Cimes and Passy Town Hall, followed by a multi-year agreement on objectives with Passy Town Hall from 2021 onwards.
To run the site, the association relies on one permanent employee and a team of six to eight seasonal staff, supported by a community-based approach centred on volunteers, board members and three working groups (Planning, Cultural and Educational).
From the very beginning, Passy Town Hall has actively supported the Jardin des Cimes project.
The Jardin des Cimes was established during the term of office of Yves Tissot (2001–2008), who was a key driving force behind the project, securing a large part of the funding and land acquisition through Passy Town Hall.
Under the tenure of Mr Patrick Kollibay (2014–2020), Passy Town Hall provides financial support to the association through an annual operating grant, appoints a member of the municipal council, Ms Myriam Rech, to the board of directors to facilitate the partnership between the town hall and the association, and approaches the Haute-Savoie department to carry out major works:
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Jardin des Cimes, 447 route du Docteur Davy Plateau d’Assy, 74190 PASSY – 04 50 21 50 87