Today, March 21, spring enters and with it is the ideal time to travel and enjoy the first rays of sun. One of the activities that gains more followers each year are the festivals dedicated to gardens and flowers, in which colors and aromas are taken care of in detail. Therefore, to celebrate this long-awaited moment, we have compiled in a list some of the most beautiful corners of Europe to enjoy in spring.
Cherry Tree Festival in the Jerte Valley
The Valle del Jerte, in the north of Extremadura, is famous for its cherry blossoms in spring. The flowering date varies each year depending on the winter weather so we must be careful not to miss the appointment. It usually lasts about two weeks but as the trees do not bloom at the same time, it is best to spend a few days in the region and thus attend the whole process.
Once the burst of white petals has occurred, the appearance of the cherries takes place. This usually happens around June and July. The snowy landscape is transformed into an intense red blanket thanks to the fruit of the cherry trees. A natural spectacle that becomes a true delight for the eye, the smell and the palate. After all, the Picotas del Jerte, which have a Protected Designation of Origin, are considered one of the best in the world.
International Garden Festival
In 2016 the 25th anniversary of the International Garden Festival is celebrated in the domain of Chaumont-sur-Loire, less than 200 kilometers south of Paris. Every year, this event constitutes a panorama of the unique landscape creation in the world that brings together numerous artists and gardeners in order to create one of the most famous flower exhibitions in Europe.
From April 21 to November 3, 2016, the International Garden Festival will be marked by gardens open to the great issues of our time such as climate change, rising water levels, “floating gardens”, the relationship between habitat and garden, etc.
Floral Carpet of the Great Place
The Grand Place in Brussels is the historical and commercial heart of the Belgian capital, as well as one of the most beautiful squares in Europe. Construction began around the XNUMXth century with the construction of a food market and several guild houses to which the city council would join years later. The square was destroyed in the seventeenth century due to the French army bombing but later it was rebuilt, so various artistic styles such as Gothic, Baroque or Neo-Gothic can be appreciated in it.
Every two years, the Grand Place in Brussels is covered with flowers and infused with an intense and fresh aroma. This has happened every August 15 of the even-numbered years since 1971, the year in which the architect E. Stautemas created the first carpet. Eighteen have been held at this location since then.
To see it better, it is advisable to go up to the balcony of the Town Hall, which is a unique opportunity to also see this magnificent building. The town hall can be visited and guided tours (not available in Spanish), Tuesdays and Wednesdays, in Dutch (13:45 pm), in French (14:30 pm) and in English (15:15 pm).
Chelsea Flower Show
The Chelsea Flower Show (formerly known as the Great Spring Festival) is the floral festival n--ás important of United Kingdom y it is celebrated the last weekend of the month of May in London. During the event, various gardens specially designed for the occasion are displayed, as well as a hundred exhibitors in which the best producers in the sector show original compositions made with a wide variety of plants and flowers.
The Chelsea Flower Festival takes place at the Royal Hospital in Chelsea and the opening is even attended by the British Royal Household.
International Istanbul Tulip Festival
During the month of April the parks and gardens of Istanbul bloom and fill with thousands of tulips to celebrate Turkish art and culture. This flower is a symbol of the country and from here they spread throughout Europe. It is true that when we talk about tulips the first place that comes to mind is the Netherlands but, in reality, it was in Turkey where they began to be cultivated as ornamental flowers in the XNUMXth century.
Since 2006, every April Istanbul is covered with tulips in order to recover this ancient Turkish tradition. Thus was born the International Istanbul Tulip Festival, an event that attracts a multitude of tourists every year.
The place where more tulips can be found is in Emirgan Park, north of the city along the Bosphorus.