Each February the annual Violet Festival or Fête de la Violette is held at Toulouse. The city celebrates the violet flowering season with a series of events dedicated to its favourite flower and national emblem, the violet.
Violet Festival or Fête de la Violette at Toulouse
Toulouse is even called the 'City of the Violet'. The city is said to be the world capital of the violet flower and it's carried the emblem of the sweet purple flower for centuries.
The festival is centred around Toulouse's grandiose main square, the Place du Capitole. The grand capitole (city hall) has graced the square since around 1750 and with its elegant facade is a popular tourist location. The complex also includes the National Theatre of Toulouse and is the historic centre of the town.
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Place du Capitole, Toulouse
The history of the Violet and Napoleon
The violet's popularity grew during the time of Napoleon as it was the favoured flower of the Emperor himself and his Empress Josephine. When Napoleon lived in exile, the violet even became the symbol of the Imperial Napoleonic party. Its association with Napoleon was so strong that 'violet' was even used as a code word among his supporters.
In researching the history of the violet, I found that the Emperor's soldiers are to be credited for introducing the exotic Palmer violet into France from Italy. The strain of the Palmer violet first appeared near Toulouse in the mid 19th century. Today it is known as the 'Violette de Toulouse', and it is a registered trademark.
Annual Violet Festival or Fête de la Violette
The yearly Fête de la Violette brings this sweet little flower to everyone's attention. There is a fabulous open air market, where they sell their little fragrant bouquets and everything that uses violets. You'll find little bags of sweets prettily wrapped and decorated with ribbon, violet flavoured biscuits and ice cream. Cocktails and champagne infused with violets are a luxurious and popular option alongside delicious violet macarons and biscuits. Find out how to make crystallised violets for your cocktails in our post Toulouse - City of Violets.
Flavoured honey, salt, mustard, biscuits and even bread are expansively loaded on stall tables for you to try and buy. Lotions, candles, incense and perfumes beckon with their scent filling the air at every turn of the market place. Resisting is worthless!
Potted plants and fresh bouquets decorate the festival and are able to be purchased.
Violet ice cream at Guingamp
Violet ice cream at Saint Malo
Try a violet ice cream at the Violet Festival in Toulouse
Violet flavoured ice cream is my all-time favourite. I first tried this flavour in Binic, on the north coast of Côtes-d'Armor, on a hot summer's day as I walked around the marina, and instantly fell in love with its unique and delicate flavour. A flavour almost never found in Australia, I make sure I buy myself a violet ice-cream (or a couple) each summer when I'm in France. (I live between my two homes both in Australia and France - read more about our French life.)
The violet theme continues throughout February with the international Congress of Violet Growers and even a fancy ball is organised by the Confrérie de la Violette (the Violet Brotherhood).
If you are heading to Toulouse outside of the Fête de la Violette dates, I recommend popping into the boutique store La Maison de la Violette. Here you'll be able to pick up violet goodies such as sweets, biscuits, cheese, candle and lotions to take home. The boutique is located at Péniche sur le canal du Midi, face au 3 Boulevarde de Bonrepos, 31000 Toulouse.
Explore more of Toulouse's attractions here https://www.toulouse-tourisme.com/en/
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