Towns and villages in bloom

All over the world, flowers are used to welcome people and as a symbol of happiness. In France, towns and villages show how pleased they are to receive visitors through flowers, in streets and on squares, in parks and gardens, and on balconies.

Created in 1959, this competition and accreditation system rewards municipalities (from the smallest village to the largest city) for embellishing their streets and squares with flowers, as well as for protecting their tree heritage.

Since 1996, the judges have also taken account of living conditions, of environmental policy and of the involvement of the population as a whole in planting flowers and in enhancing their environment.

From children at the day-care centre planting a flowerbed through to the senior citizens of the village, everyone takes part. In some municipalities, the locals even take turns to handle the watering when there are not automatic systems!

In Aquitaine, the Comité Régional de Tourisme is charge of organising the competition. The panel of judges, composed of representatives of the “4-flower” municipalities landscape gardeners, tree experts and teachers, also serve as advisors to the participants. 

These towns and villages in bloom offer an opportunity to enjoy a stroll in villages that are always pretty and tidy, and in towns that are cleaner and decorated with thousands of flowers to highlight the beauty of their heritage.

:: Dordogne : Bergerac ; Périgueux

:: Gironde : Blanquefort

:: Landes : Biscarrosse ; Hagetmau ; Mimizan ; Mont-de-Marsan

:: Pyrénées-Atlantiques : Anglet ; Pau