Geenzefest A festival dedicated to the beauty of the landscape
Each Whit Monday, the city of Wiltz in the Ardennes region throbs for the Broom Festival. Known as Gënzefest or Geenzefest in local dialect, the festival honours the broom, a bush with yellow flowers that grows abundantly on the hills of the Éislek region in the North of Luxembourg. Thousands of spectators visit the city to have fun and especially to see the Broom Queen and her parade.
The festival of the golden landscape
Over the years, the Geenzefest has become one of the most important folk events in the Grand Duchy, attracting nearly 10,000 visitors each year to the streets of the main town in the Ardennes area.
The 'Geenzefest' is organised by the association 'Les Amis de la féerie du genêt de Wiltz' (the friends of the Broom Festival of Wiltz); it is best known for its impressive flowering broom parade: over 40 floats and national and international folk music bands parade through the streets of the town on Whit Monday.
Entertainment for all
On top of the flowering broom parade, the Whit weekend features an extensive programme of entertainment: exhibitions, the crowning of the Broom Queen, a flea market, folk displays, concerts, shows and the broom dance - there is something in store for everyone.
Celebrated since 1948, the Broom Festival was an idea of photographer Tony Mander and his friends. Their objective was to celebrate the beauty of the landscape and celebrate the singing, music and folklore of the Ardennes. In fact, at this time of the year, broom bathes the Oesling's landscapes in shades of golden yellow.
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