At Pentecost, the town of Wiltz is decked out in yellow to celebrate the traditional Fête du Genêt! And this 75th edition promises to be rich in color and tradition: folk shows, crowning of the Queen, grand parade of floats... 🌼
A DEEP-ROOTED AND COLORFUL TRADITION
A bright floor of yellow flowers stretching as far as the eye can see, brass bands blaring through the streets, majorettes twirling, flower-decked floats marching past and a festive air wafting through the spring air... There's no doubt about it: this is Wiltz, where the Geenzefest - the famous Fête du Genêt - has been brightening up Whitsuntide for decades 🧚🏻️
From Saturday June 7th to Monday June 9th, the town of Wiltz vibrates to the rhythm of the festival: street performances, flea markets, concerts, a popular ball and, the icing on the cake: the royal crowning of the Reine du Genêt. Because yes, ladies and gentlemen, flowers have their queen here...
But be patient... we'll tell you all about it right after!
By the way, what's all this about broom?
Broom is a dapper, sunny yellow plant that grows freely in the fields of northern France. A bucolic rebel that asks nothing of anyone except to herald summer 😎 And in Wiltz, they love it so much they've dedicated an entire festival to it 🫶🏻
Born in the 50s to celebrate the beauty of the local landscape, the Geenzefest has over time become a veritable national institution 🇱🇺 Every year for 3 days, it attracts thousands of curious onlookers and devotees, ready to vibrate to the rhythm of folk music, bright colors and this unique atmosphere!
THE WEEKEND PROGRAM
Saturday - Crowns, sequins and dance steps
At 8pm, the party takes on a fairytale air as the Reine du Genêt and her ladies-in-waiting are inducted in an official ceremony. It's an emotional evening that marks the start of the weekend, and above all... of a year of proudly representing the region at neighboring events 🌟
Then it's on to the dance floor with the Bal du Genêt 🪩Sunday - Choirs and softness
On Sunday, at 10:30 am, a solemn mass resounds in the Saints Pierre et Paul church, magnified by the voices of the Sainte Cécile de Wiltz choir. A moment suspended in the whirlwind of the weekend ⛪️Monday - The grand finale
In the morning, the streets and courtyard of the Château come alive with the Genêt market, entertainment for young and old, and an aperitif concert.
In the early afternoon, the festivities get underway with the grand parade! The corso fleuri takes to the stage at 2:30 p.m. with its bevy of dazzling floats, traditional costumes, majorettes and festive bands. Wiltz becomes a lively, vibrant, joyful stage, where folklore meets spectacle and spectators' eyes light up 🎭 🥹 And the party continues with the float displays and street shows all over town.
In short, a fanfare finale not to be missed 🥁And that's not all... from June 9th to 22nd, an exceptional exhibition celebrates the 75th anniversary of the Fête du Genêt in the cultural hall of the Château de Wiltz 🏰 A plunge into the floral memories of this tradition, to be discovered during Tourist Office opening hours!
PRACTICAL INFORMATION FOR A LIGHT-HEARTED DAY
You don't need a compass or a magic formula to get to Wiltz... but the town does encourage you to get there by train, bus or carpool. The choice is yours!
If you prefer to come by car, don't worry: around 900 parking spaces are available in the well-signposted P&R parking lots, and free Park & Ride shuttles run every 15 minutes (from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.) to take you to the heart of Wiltz! Trains run every 30 minutes between Kautenbach and Wiltz on the Luxembourg - Troisvierges - Gouvy line 🚉
Tickets: 8€ for adults, book in advance to avoid queues 🎟️
So, if you're in the mood for a weekend like no other, full of traditions, flowers and popular festivities: head to Wiltz for a great time to be had with the whole family 💛
