Brussels Flower Carpet from 14 to 17 August 2008 travel tips and stories. Vacations ideas, cruises, spa and resorts

Every two years the Grand Place in the center of Brussels is the location of the “Flower Carpet”. During the third week of August every even year, begonia cultivators from Ghent decorate here according to a theme. The famous Carpet of Flowers covers 300 m² right in the center of the Grand Place. Every flower carpet has a unique theme, and this year it is inspired by the alchemy of the Middle Ages, with 9 rosettes mounted on vast rotating platforms to form a giant kaleidoscopic wind rose.

A huge area at the center of the celebrated Grand Place becomes a floral work of art every other year as a giant carpet is laid out to a pre-determined theme. It’s an incredible sight as each year a huge team of artists and helpers set to work creating this famous display from turf and fresh begonias. About 300 blooms go into the making of each square meter, and they are so tightly packed they create their own microclimate and resist wind damage. In all, about 700,000 flowers go into the magnificent display. A almost million begonias for… one single carpet? This is certainly an extraordinary achievement.

A night scene of the flower carpet is more beautiful than the rain drenched morning with the begonias in their full splendour. Begonias, because they contain 98% water to stand summer rain or shine. Belgium being the world’s largest producer of begonia tubers, would not have much difficulty in finding enough flowers to cover every square meter with at least 300 flowers.

The official inauguration of the carpet begins on August 14th, but visitors can admire the Flower Carpet on the 15th, 16th and 17th from 9:30 am until 10:30 pm. The famous Carpet of Flowers is laid right in the center of the Grand Place and for a small charge, payable locally, can be admired best from the balcony of the City Hall, which is open to the public for the occasion. Entry price: € 3 for adults and free for children under 12.