This year’s celebration of Europe Day took place in the Old Royal Capital of Cetinje. To mark this date, we decided to decorate Cetinje’s main square with an impressive floral carpet made up of 33,500 flowers.
To assemble the carpet, the local government of Cetinje organised a planning event during which pupils attending the primary schools of Lovćenski partizanski odred and Njegoš planted flowers in the city’s historical centre. The local authorities are planning to hold more planting events in the coming days, whereby the flowers from the large floral display will be moved to the front of local institutions, schools and kindergartens.
The flower carpet officially opened last Saturday ahead of Europe Day. It is inspired by the floral patterns on the parquet flooring in the Royal Palace of King Nikola and combines the Montenegrin and European Union traditions. In fact, every other year, a similar flower carpet is laid out in Brussels’s main square, the Grand Place.
“The blend of the Montenegrin and Brussels traditions symbolises our friendship, partnership and a bright common future. We are happy that the flower carpet, which carries such symbolism, will continue to live,” said Oana Cristina Popa, the Ambassador of the European Union to Montenegro.
Hundreds of residents and tourists have visited Cetinje’s flower carpet over the last three days. Nikola Đurašković, the mayor of the Old Royal Capital, who also took part in today’s planting event, said this was a very important celebration for Cetinje.
“We are very glad that we celebrated Europe Day this year together with the Delegation of the European Union to Montenegro. The flower carpet has brightened up the Palace Square. After today’s event, the flower bed will continue to adorn a number of green spaces in our city,” said Đurašković.
Alongside the Old Royal Capital of Cetinje, the ‘weaving’ of the flower carpet was also supported by other partners, including Erste Bank, CKB Bank, Addiko Bank, NLB Bank, IDEA supermarket chain, Air Montenegro, Ina, National Tourism Organisation, Regent Hotel and Hilton Hotel.