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May 19, 2022

Exploring the World's Best Awards and Competitions Celebrating Cities and Villages

According to French professional football manager Zinedine Zidane: "It doesn't matter how many times you win an award, it is always very special."

A little competition is great fun for all ages, as it builds our character and creates a safe space for us to improve and reach our goals. Although we agree with the statement that "it's participation that counts", it's also true that there is nothing as satisfying as receiving some sort of award or accolade after working hard on something you're passionate about.

Here at DiscoverCars.com, we therefore explored the different awards and competitions hosted in different cities and villages around the world which pay homage to the natural world. We were thorough in our approach, looking at 196 countries, ranging from Japan to the Seychelles.
Of these, by far the most popular global competitions were garden-related, with us finding a total of 28! Examples include Cyprus's Most Beautiful Garden and Balcony Competition, Japan's Three Great Gardens competitions, and New Zealand's Most Beautiful Garden competition.

We found the United Kingdom had the largest number of garden competitions, with a grand total of six across this sovereign state. They include the RHS Partner Garden of the Year competition and The Nation's Favourite Gardens competition.

We also discovered a whopping 20 competitions that explored the best and most beautiful villages, such as the Czech Republic's Village of the Year and Indonesia's Tourism Village Award.

Additionally, there were seven flower-related competitions, such as Belgium's Brussels in Flowers and the annual hunt to identify Hungary's most beautiful flowery city.

We even found one competition in Austria that explored the most beautiful train stations that the country has to offer.

With the increasing awareness of the importance of the environment we live in, other awards include India's best ornamental garden in Bangalore, Namibia's Eco-Awards, and Portugal's blue flag and gold standard awards, which are given to beaches in Comporta.
Wiltshire's Best Kept Village (England)
First on the list is Wiltshire's Best Kept Village competition. There have been 28 British villages that have entered the competition. These include Dinton, Tilshead, Whiteparish, Maiden Bradley, and Sutton Veny.

No matter the size of the village, the winning location will receive an eight-foot mounted shield for a year to exhibit on their village green.

The countryside charity said "The competition seeks to find the villages that are best looked after by their inhabitants and where community spirit is strong. It is not aimed at finding the prettiest villages, but rather those where villagers make the best of their surroundings."
Ireland's Tidiest Village
The second competition to be explored is Ireland's tidiest village, with the winner having been announced as Geashill in County Offaly, in Ireland. It is part of the Eastern and Midland region in Leinster.

This beautiful area of Ireland won a prize of €5,000 and the trophy for Ireland's tidiest village, with a total score of 353.

They also received a gold medal, together with Tullamore, which is a county town also in Offaly, Ireland on the Grand Cana. Additionally, Birr was awarded a silver medal and a bronze medal was given to Clonbullogue.

The exciting event was broadcasted live to volunteers around the country who were enthusiastically waiting for the announcement of the winners.
The Most Beautiful Villages in Flanders (Belgium)
Third on the list is Belgium's competition to find the most beautiful village in Flanders, which is the Dutch-speaking northern portion of the country.

The competition was organized by Toerisme Vlaanderen, a government service aimed at strengthening the positive impact tourism has on the country, and Het Nieuwsblad, a Flemish newspaper. Past winners have included scenic Baarle-Hertog in Antwerp, Kasterlee and Sint-Amands.
France's Favourite Village (France)
Every year, French-Luxembourger journalist, radio host and television presenter Stéphane Bern visits 14 villages in France so each can showcase why they should win Village Préféré des Français, which translates to France's Favourite Village.

The villages taking part include Hérisson, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Châteauneuf, Bourgogne Franche Comté, Île de Houat, Bretagne, Sancerre, Centre-Val de Loire, Saint-Florent, Corse anf Rocroi and Grand Est.

At the time of Grand Est's win in 2020, the tourism officer and municipal deputy of the village said: "We did not expect to win. It was already an honor to be on the list of villages in competition, but winning comes as a surprise. We are very happy and we will host new people visiting as we have always done."
Kamares Spring Garden and Flower Competition (Greece)
The next competition is held in Greece in the areas of Tala, Koili, and Tsada. It is called the Kamares Spring Garden and Flower Competition and is organized by the land developers Leptos Group for its residents.

The competition takes center stage in the Greek village of Kamares. Kamares is situated on the island of Sifnos, which is most famous for its stunning white houses, Greek chapels and immaculate beaches.

Categories include Best Large Gardens and Best Hanging Basket Flowers and offer first, second and third place spots. This competition really echoes the sentiment that 'it's the taking part that counts' because both prize winners and participants are invited to a cocktail ceremony at the renowned Kamares Club.
Competition to find the prettiest village in the country (Switzerland)
When visiting or deciding to move to any country, the aesthetics of the surrounding areas are something to consider for most people. For those wishing to visit or relocate to Switzerland, it may be worth paying attention to the prettiest village of Switzerland competition, which is awarded annually after votes are taken online and through the post.

Competition finalists include the villages of Aquila, Rasa, Sonogno, Grimentz, Les Marécottes, and Iseltwald in the canton of Bern.
Prettiest Painted Places in America (United States)
Another exciting competition that takes place in Ohio and is piquing the interest of people from across the United States is the Prettiest Painted Places in America competition.

The competition is sponsored by the Paint Quality Institute, which aims to educate people on the importance of quality paints and coatings. The competition has had entries from areas like Cambridge, Millersburg, Peninsula, Wooster, and Yellow Springs.

Debbie Zimmer from the Paint Quality Institute said: "The places involved in our competition are a tremendous inspiration to us all, and by giving them recognition, we hope to instill in the public a better appreciation for the role exterior paint can play in protecting and enhancing the appearance of any home or building."
    International Bouquet Competition (Monaco)
    Not only are flowers extremely beautiful, but they're also meaningful when given as a gift as they fit in well with most occasions and life events. Therefore, it only seems fit to have a competition dedicated to them, which you can find in Monaco.

    The international bouquet competition is organized by the Garden Club of Monaco and is chaired by Caroline, Princess of Hanover. The competition isn't just for professionals, as amateurs can also compete in order to create the most imaginative floral designs the contestants can offer.
    Home Garden Competition (Seychelles)
    Many of us take great pride in our gardens, especially during the pandemic, when we all realized the importance of being able to go outside for both our mental and physical health.

    This is why the Home Garden Competition, in Seychelles, was launched. Every home in Seychelles can take part in the competition, no matter the size of their garden or balcony.

    The Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change, and the Environment created the competition as they noticed the increase in the number of people trying out gardening during the pandemic.

    The director-general of the public education and community outreach division said: "Since the start of COVID-19, we have seen through social media that there is an increase in the number of people planting at home."
    GCA Garden Centre of the Year Competition (South Africa)
    Finally, we come to South Africa's Garden Centre of the Year competition, which is hosted by South Africa's Nursery Association (SANA). SANA is a non-profit organization that aims to promote and encourage open discussion about gardening.

    This competition occurs from October to December, and moderation is conducted at the start of March the following year. Garden centers and home store garden departments are measured against a set of standards aimed at assessing and improving product standards and services throughout the industry.
      Final thoughts
      We hope we have enlightened you on all the varying competitions and awards that are available all around the world and celebrate all of the natural beauty that our wonderful world has to offer.

      If you're looking to rent a car to visit some of the competition's award-winning locations, please consider choosing us as we are a leader in online car rental reservations. We compare car rental deals from many companies so that you can choose the best deal for your individual needs.

      Many other websites hide their fees and extra costs from you. However, we include all mandatory fees, taxes, and extras in the quoted price, so there won't be any nasty surprises when you arrive at the rental desk.

      We also operate in over 145 countries and 10,000 locations, so we're sure to have the car rental deal for you no matter where your next destination happens to be.
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