Platres revels in its signature scent

By Maria Eirini Liodi

For a sixth year next Sunday, Platres will be embracing in style its most enduring fragrance – lavender.

The mountain village’s annual lavender festival will attract 25 producers from all around the island, showcasing over 100 products, educational workshops and music, all with a shared theme.

Visitors can expect “an experience that covers all the senses which “open to all, from children to adults,” says Panayiotis Papadopoulos Troodos Network representative and key organiser of the event.

Like previous festivals, this year’s will offer the very best lavender products, ranging from soaps, to liquors, chocolates and more. No surprise as between 3,000-5,000 people visit each year.

And why the lavender theme? According to Papadopoulos, lavender is an emblem of the “rich history of Platres”.

“When Platres first became the forest station connecting Troodos with Limassol, the village’s development was launched. From there its tourism potential began to swell, bringing the likes of Prince George, Princess Mary, George Seferis and more to the area,” he said.

“The English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), which is found in Platres, was central to the allure of the area. It is the most fragrant lavender variety and produces the best essential oil, with antiseptic and healing properties and is ideal for treating insomnia, headaches, depression, and reducing anxiety. It is also said to have been the favourite of Queen Victoria!”

In seeking to bring a “renaissance of Platres”, this lavender-celebrating festival also acts as a celebration of the history of the village. It serves as a “powerful tool to revive the village, highlight its rich history, and bring a renewed ‘royal service’” to its visitors.

Platres lavender festival is organised by the Troodos Network of Thematic Centres on Sunday, July 2, from 11am-7pm