Entente_Florale

Entente Florale

The Entente Florale is an international horticultural competition established to recognise municipalities and villages in Europe for excellence in horticultural displays. Trophies are presented annualy by tourist boards and horticultural societies of European countries. There are two categories : "Towns/Cities" (population 10,001 and upwards), and "Villages" (population up to 10,000).

History and Participation

The Entente Florale or International Floral Decoration Competition as it was once officially named was founded in 1975, initially as an Anglo-French competition. Entrants now come from nations across Europe. In 2008 there were 12 participating countries, including: the Republic of Ireland; the United Kingdom; France; the Netherlands; Belgium; Germany; Austria; Italy; Slovenia; Croatia; the Czech Republic; and Hungary.

Overall the competition is organised by the "Association Européenne du Fleurissement et du Paysage" ("A.E.F.P."), which is a company, incorporated under Belgian Law(s) supported by the International Association of Horticultural Producers. Each participant country has its own organisation often supported by its own government and /or horticultural bodies and associations. The entrants are usually the winners of national competitions, such as Britain in Bloom or Ireland's Irish Tidy Towns Awards competition. Each of the competing nations send a judge to examine the other entrants and decide the winner.

Previous Winners

Towns/Cities

Year	Nat	Winners	Participants
Year	Nat	Winners	United Kingdom	France	Republic of Ireland	Netherlands	Belgium	Germany	Austria	Italy	Slovenia	Croatia	Czech Republic	Hungary
2008			Plymouth	Tours	Letterkenny	Uden	Arlon	Düsseldorf	Tulln	Cervia	Rogaska Slatina	Split	Kyjov	Gyula
2007		Münster	Shrewsbury Gold \|align=center France\|Nancy Gold \|align=center Republic of Ireland\|Killarney Gold \|align=center Netherlands\|Amersfoort Gold \|align=center Belgium\|Mechelen Gold \|align=center Germany\|Münster Gold \|align=center Austria\|No Entry	Omegna Bronze \|align=center Slovenia\|Novo Mesto Bronze + special award	Biograd Silver \|align=center Czech Republic\|Tabor Silver \|align=center Hungary\|Eger Gold \|-	2006			Cardiff Gold \|align=center France\|Beaune	Kilkenny	Zwolle	Kortrijk Gold \|align=center Germany\|Kiel Gold \|align=center Austria\|Linz	Alba	Sencur	Opatija	Pilzen	Nagyatád
2005		Sheffield	Sheffield Gold \|align=center France\|Le Plesis-Robinson				Potsdam Gold \|align=center Austria\|Baden					Mako
2004		Harrogate	Harrogate Gold + Lucia Cikes award					Bad Kissingen Gold \|align=center Austria\|
2003								Bad Säckingen Gold \|align=center Austria\|
2002			Bath Silver \|align=center France\|Evian	Ennis	Alphen/a.d.Rijn	Tielt	Celle Silver \|align=center Austria\|Pinkafeld		Ptuj Silver \|align=center style="background: #708090;" Croatia\|	Frydek Mistek	Paks
2001								Luckau Silver \|align=center Austria\|
2000					Letterkenny Bronze \|align=center Netherlands\|		Heilbronn Gold \|align=center Austria\|
1999								Fulda Gold \|align=center Austria\|
1998								Rheda-Wiedenbrück Silver \|align=center Austria\|
1997								Augsburg Gold \|align=center Austria\|
1996		Duderstadt						Duderstadt Silver \|align=center Austria\|
1995								Grevenbroich Certificate of Excellence
1994								Strümpfelbach Certificate of Excellence
1978		Bath	Bath
1977		Harrogate	Harrogate
1975		Bath	Bath

Villages

Year	Nat	Winners	Participants
Year	Nat	Winners	United Kingdom	France	Republic of Ireland	Netherlands	Belgium	Germany	Austria	Italy	Slovenia	Croatia	Czech Republic	Hungary
2008			Garstang	Aubigny	Tallanstown	Beek/Ubbergen	Zwevegem	Rehinghausen	Hanfthal	Bergolo	Medana / Brda	Novi Vinodolski	Tvarozna Lhota	Tápiógyörgye
2007			Falkland Gold \|align=center France\|Gelaucourt Silver \|align=center Republic of Ireland\|Birdhill Gold \|align=center Netherlands\|Haren Bronze + Lucia Cikes award	Flohimont Bronze \|align=center Germany\|Gersbach Gold \|align=center Austria\|Donnersbach Gold \|align=center Italy\|Limone Piemonte Gold \|align=center Slovenia\|Smlednik Silver \|align=center Croatia\|Primosten Gold \|align=center Czech Republic\|Zalsi Bronze + special award	Noszvaj Bronze \|-	2006								Brokeloh Silver \|align=center Austria\|
2005			St Ives and Carbis Bay Gold \|align=center France\|				Bertsdorf-Hörnitz Gold \|align=center Austria\|
2004		Darley	Darley Gold \|align=center France\|				Nußdorf am Inn Gold \|align=center Austria\|
2003								Neuenweg Silver \|align=center Austria\|
2002			Thorpe Salvin	Yvoire	Stradbally	Ommen	Omal/Geer	Päse Gold \|align=center Austria\|Pinkafeld Antau		Kostanjevica Silver \|align=center style="background: #708090;" Croatia\|	Teleci	Gyederlak
2001					Leighlinbridge Gold \|align=center Netherlands\|		Obercunnersdorf Gold \|align=center Austria\|		Spodnja Idrija Silver \|align=center style="background: #708090;" Croatia\|
2000		Clonakilty			Clonakilty Gold \|align=center Netherlands\|		Immenstaad-Kippenhausen Silver \|align=center Austria\|
1999								Schweikershausen Silver \|align=center Austria\|
1998								Bruchhausen Gold \|align=center Austria\|
1997								Horsdorf Gold \|align=center Austria\|
1996		Skerries			Skerries Gold \|align=center Netherlands\|		Rambach Silver \|align=center Austria\|
1995								Veldenz Certificate of Excellence
1994		Broughshane	Broughshane					Bürchau Certificate of Excellence
1978		Pateley Bridge	Pateley Bridge

In 2004, Harrogate won the top prize for the Towns and Villages category.

In 2007, the city of Mechelen (Belgium) won the gold medal. The Jury said Mechelen was a "beautifully renovated city, with lovely trees and flowers, which boasts nice buildings and a perfect combination between modern architecture and national heritage" and also commented on Mechelen's clean public places. You can count 236 flower towers, 289 flower boxes, 1,119 flower baskets and 330 boxed plants.

In 2008, Letterkenny represented Ireland. Locally there was a minor furore as all flags of competing nations were displayed in prominent areas of the city, with some difficulty encountered when locals discovered the controversial Union Jack flag hanging from a pole adjacent to the library and Paddy Delap's newsagent. The flag is still upseetting to many people angered by continuing British rule in Northern Ireland and as such led to an intensely heated debate on local radio station Highland Radio on the day the judges were in town. The flag was first mounted the previous day (August 7) and had to be taken down when some concerns were raised about its safety on a busy Thursday night. It was remounted the following day.