FÊTE DE LA VIOLETTE

Every year, Toulouse celebrates its emblematic flower, the delicate violet. In the ^19th century, 600 families living to the north of the city made their living in winter by selling cut flowers at the Jacobins market and in the streets. Used to make round bouquets, they were shipped by train to Paris or London, and exported to England, Germany, Russia and even Morocco by airmail. Since the early 1980s, they've been enjoying a renaissance. Producers and confectioners gather in Place du Capitole for a popular festival.