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Violets of Toulouse a Floral FeteThe Annual Festival de la Violettes in La Ville Rose
As tulips are to Amsterdam so violets are to Toulouse and whilst it is known as the pink city, every spring it turns the colour purple during the Festival de la Violette.
As far back as the 16thcentury Toulouse was already culturally represented by the violet. At the hugely popular “Jeux floraux” the most prestigious prize was a golden replica. Whilst on a more domestic scale the small Toulousain gardens of the period were packed with violets - the traditional deep purple single flower abounded but in amongst them, lilac, pink, and even white flowers were cultivated. Fit for a King!The Violet may have been small and humble but it wasn’t just the lowly gardeners of Toulouse who treasured it; it was revered at one of the most celebrated gardens in France, the Empress Josephine’s Malmaison. The Violette de Parma became a flower so favoured by the celebrated Emperor and his wife that after he fled to Elba in 1814 it was adopted in his honour as the emblem of the Imperial Napoleonic Party. Loyal supporters back in France wore violet clothing and whispered the code words “aimez-vous la violette?” Napoleons nickname was "Corporal Violet - the little flower that returns with spring". Postcards picturing an innocent posy of violets soon flooded France, but when scrutinized closely, the violets in the bouquet revealed the outlines of portraits of Napoleon, his wife and son. As late as 1874 the French government were still trying to ban any image reproduction of the violet because of its Bonapartist symbolism. It was Napoleon’s soldiers who were credited with bringing the first of the Parma violets back from the Napoleonic wars in Italy (1802) and it is the Parma Violet in particular that the city of Toulouse is now famous for. Serious cultivation of V. Parme de Toulouse first began in the 1800’s and continues today. 101 Things.....There seems to be nothing they haven’t thought of doing with violets in Toulouse (well they’ve had 200 years to think about it); they cook with it - heavenly scented breads and flavoured jellies - infuse tea and honey with it, make perfume from it, liqueurs, eaux de toilette and soaps. They crystallise them, cover them in chocolate, and embroider them on numerous ranges of household linen. It is an enormously successful business for the city and is rightfully celebrated every February with Le festival de la Violettes, when the main square in Toulouse is taken over by violet traders, growers and florists. This is a charming market. The Nursery men wear period costume and the hundreds of bouquets and posies fill the air with scent. But the market is only part of the festival; there is a more serious botanical side to it organised by ‘Les Amis de Violettes’. There is an international congress of violet growers, botanists and traders with awards for new cultivars; nurserymen conferences, dinners and soirees, culminating in the Gala ball of the ‘Confrérie de Violette’ (brotherhood) The festival takes place annually on the first weekend in February. To sample a range of violet products try:Violettes and pastels 10 rue Saint-Pantaléon, 31000 Toulouse (05 61 22 14 22) Maison de la Violette – a charming purple barge moored on the Canal du Midi (4 Boulevade Bonrepos) Further Information can be had from Natalie Casbas who holds the French national collection, and runs the International Violet Association
The copyright of the article Violets of Toulouse a Floral Fete in France Travel is owned by Kerry Swash. Permission to republish Violets of Toulouse a Floral Fete in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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