Debrecen, Zalakaros Awarded at Entente Florale Europe

The Eastern Hungarian city of Debrecen won silver and the southwestern spa town of Zalakaros gold in this year's European Cities and Villages in Bloom competition, one of the most prestigious European contests in the field of environmental architecture, the Hungarian Tourism Agency (MTÜ) has told MTI.

According to the information, a total of 11 settlements from seven countries took part in this year's European competition of flowering towns and villages. In the judging process, the jury primarily assessed the activities of the municipalities in green management, climate adaptation, environmental education and public involvement, MTÜ said.

The results were announced at the Sóstó Stadium in Székesfehérvár, southwest of Budapest. The event was attended by around 160 city leaders and green space management professionals from competing municipalities.

While the guests were able to discover Székesfehérvár, which had previously won a gold medal and a special prize for good practice, the public was able to discover the traditions, attractions and traditional food and drink of the competing municipalities at the Europe Market on Sóstó, the press release said.

The Entente Florale Europe has been held since 1975 to promote European municipalities and to disseminate the principles of livability and sustainability. Hungary was the first country in Central and Eastern Europe to join the competition in 1990 and has since then been a successful participant, according to the MTÜ statement.