BELGIUM: BRUSSELS HOLDS ITS TRADITIONAL MIDSUMMER FESTIVAL OF FLOWERS IN THE GRAND SQUARE

Record ID: 860932

  • Title: BELGIUM: BRUSSELS HOLDS ITS TRADITIONAL MIDSUMMER FESTIVAL OF FLOWERS IN THE GRAND SQUARE
  • Date: 14th August 2002
  • Summary: (L!1) BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (AUGUST 14, 2002) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SCENES) ( * BEWARE FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **) VARIOUS, OF GRAND PLACE AND TOWN HALL ILLUMINATED WITH CARPET OF FLOWERS AND FIREWORK DISPLAY (4 SHOTS) WIDE OF CARPET OF FLOWERS WITH SON ET LUMIERE DISPLAY AND FOUNTAINS (4 SHOTS) WIDE /PULL OUT OF BUILDINGS IN SQUARE AND FOUNTAINS WIDE /PAN OF CARPET OF FLOWERS AND CROWD
  • Embargoed: 29th August 2002 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
  • City:
  • Country: Belgium
  • Topics: Entertainment,Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVA5NFNOLJ6Q7H8Y0THX7II188A5
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Three quarter of a million flower petals, 70 workers and several kilogrammes of fireworks have been deployed on Brussels medieval GrandPlace as the city staged its traditional midsummer celebration in a square carpeted with flowers.
    More than 70 workers toiled under a rare afternoon of sunshine to lay the petals of just under three quarter of a million begonias, coloured red, yellow and white.
    The design, which aims to remind one of the historic gardens at Versaille in France, measures 75 by 24 metres, nearly the size of a soccer pitch.
    A total of 48 fountains were deployed to add a sense of grandeur, harking back to the water follies of the former palace of the French royals from which it was inspired.
    The exhibit will be in place for two days, part of the traditional midsummer festivities in the Belgian capital Several thousand people turned out late on Wednesday (August 14) evening to watch a firework display over the design, followed by a son-et-lumiere presentation with music of Handel playing in the background.
    Work on the giant flower bed began several weeks ago, with the preparation of special plastic masks. These were laid down on the floor of the GrandPlace. Fountains and grass turf were then laid, followed by the petals.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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