Discover the traditional Fête des violettes of Tourrettes sur Loup on the Côte d’Azur

In Tourrettes sur Loup, 10 minutes from our cottages www.locations-06.fr, the traditional “ Fête des violettes ” takes place every year on the first weekend of March.

The festival was created by Mr. Linton in 1952. He was an artist who wanted to honor farmers who specialized in violets.

Tourrettes sur Loup and the cultivation of violets

Since the ^19th century, this village has been famous for its violets, more specifically the highly fragrant Victoria violet.

Today, only 3 families of growers remain. You can visit “La Bastide des Violettes” – which is both a museum where you can learn all about violets, their history, cultivation and uses, and a plantation where, unlike traditional open-field cultivation, the violet is grown above ground in greenhouses. – A wonderful visit.

The Fêtes des violettes of Tourrettes sur Loup

This festival always takes place at the end of the annual flower harvest, on the 1st weekend in March.

On the Place de la Libération, in the centre of the village, for 2 days there is a market of artisans and producers including the stand of Guilhem, a farmer-processor from www.terroir-06 who prepares gourmet violet specialities for the occasion in addition to his traditional preserves, syrups and honeys with flowers that he cultivates in the Pays de Grasse including orange blossom, verbena and centifolia rose. And let’s not forget his renowned Orange Blossom Water, which he grows and distills himself with his own organic production, or his fruit jellies, olive paste, oils, citrus jams…there’s something for every taste!

There are also many artists and farmers selling their wares, not to mention the food-trucks.

For two days, the whole village is decked out in floral decorations, and the festivities are in full swing. Then a stroll through the traditional and beautiful village of Tourrettes sur Loup is a must.

The highlight of the show is the flower parade with the battle of flowers.

Everything is free at this party: no bleachers, no reservations, nothing to pay for. This festival is and remains a real popular festival where everyone can marvel and leave with flowers from the flower battle, unlike festivals like the Nice Carnival or the Menton lemon festival where stands and promenades are now paid for and large fences prevent you from seeing the decorated floats.

In the early days, bicycles were used to decorate the floats, but nowadays tractors pull the floats made by volunteers from the village’s associations, and the atmosphere is guaranteed!

See you soon at the Fête des violettes, which this year will take place on March 2 and 3, 2024.