10 things to know about the Amiens hortillonnages
The city of Amiens, in the north of France FranceThe city is home to some amazing hortillonnages. These are floating gardens that have existed since Roman times and are still used today to grow market garden produce.
The Amiens hortillonnages are a series of canals where vegetables were grown on islands using hydroponic or soil-less techniques in the 18th century. This practice continued until the 19th century, when it ceased to be profitable due to competition from more affordable foreign countries. You can visit these gardens by boat on one-hour guided tours offered at certain times of the year.
How to visit the hortillonnages Jardin Amiens?
The Amiens hortillonnages are a must for anyone wanting to enjoy a day of fresh air and local produce! The village is located on the outskirts of Amiens, not far from the cathedral. This small town has been known as "the garden of Picardy" since the 18th century. It used to be home to around 600 market gardens, which were used by local residents to grow their vegetables and fruit. Today, only around twenty remain, but they still sell an incredible variety of produce: tomatoes, strawberries, carrots, lettuce...
The International Garden Festival - Hortillonnages Amiens
It is a two-hour immersion in the creations of visual artists and landscaping that you can discover on international garden festival. You will discover contemporary works on display, installations sown, from island to island, on the ponds of Clermont!
Where to park near the address or the departure of the hortillonnages amiens ?
If you want to know the best place to park your car when you visit the Amiens hortillonnages, don't worry! Our article will help you find the best place for you. You can either park between 18 and 38 boulevard beauvillé in Amiens, or explore other possibilities like parking for free at rue François Génin.
The Amiens hortillonnages map
Here is a access map
What is the best time to visit the hortillonnages in Amiens?
The Amiens hortillonnages are a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most charming places in France. They were built to create a natural system for filtering the city's drinking water, but today they are best known for their pretty footpaths and iconic flower gardens. The best time to visit is in spring or summer (April to October), when everything is in bloom, with colours like pink, yellow, purple and blue! While you're here, be sure to visit other nearby attractions, such as Notre-Dame d'Amiens Cathedral, an impressive Gothic structure that has preserved its original stained glass windows dating back to 1300 (the oldest in Europe). third Sunday in JuneDressed in their traditional costumes and armed with a horn boat to navigate along the flooded fields, they sail down the Somme as they did in days gone by.
How big are the hortillonnages and the Canals?
The hortillonnages are made up of a network of 65km of rieux and 300 hectares of market gardens. They are located along the towpath of the Somme, in Amiens. There is also the Hortillonnages Museum where you can see the traditional houses and factories that stood on the site before it became a garden city
There's only one way to visit this special place: by boat! If you're in a hurry to catch your next boat, check that if it's not a weekend or bank holiday and the weather is fine, allow an extra 40-45 minutes. You can also add the waiting time at the ticket offices (if they are individual) to between 1h30 and 2 hours, which should leave plenty of time before boarding the barques! In short, if you're visiting Amiens or if you already live there, don't miss this oasis of greenery.
Hortillonnages d'amiens booking, prices, timetables
By traditional horn boat
A boat ride with the traditional version is an experience you won't want to miss. Your choice of transport will be immediately visible as it glides past you - its clean lines and design set it apart from all the rest! Once you arrive at your destination - La Maison des Hortillonnages - there's no need to look for it as everything is already well organised, including the meeting point near the pier 54 boulevard Beauvillé Tel 03 22 92 12 18
By boat with a private guide
Rémi will take you on a boat tour of Anse du Cay Azur. This private tour offers the opportunity to see more than what you can see from land, as it is done in small boats and is quiet enough to not only hear but feel the wind of nature in your hair! Meet on the towpath Les hortillonnages et vous - Tel. 07 67 66 12 65
By boat (rental)
If you are self-sufficient, hire a small individual boat from the Ô Jardin restaurant on the towpath - Tel. 03 22 92 04 27 or an electric boat from the Musée des Hortillonnages for €10/hour.
A boat
The most romantic way to see the marshes of Amiens is by boat. Les Copains Babord offer a variety of boats with or without a pilot, so that you can enjoy an unforgettable experience! You can go on different types of boats Tel: 07 55 72 55 54
Walking tour
It's easy to see why this is the ideal destination for anyone who likes to interact with nature. From the Saint Peter's Park, take an educational trail along the towpath and enjoy everything around you!
By bike
You can hire mountain bikes at Buscyclette (50 metres from the Hortillonnages). Tel. 03 22 715 111 - Theroute We suggest you follow the towpath of the Somme, head towards the preporus and then join the international garden festival before turning around for an exciting return to the Parc Saint Pierre!
By canoe or kayak
A canoe or kayak trip through the hortillonnages is an unforgettable experience. It's like exploring a whole new world! You can choose to go with guides, but if you want more freedom, there are hire companies that provide equipment for this type of exploration (Club Nautique de Rivery - Tel 03 22 91 63 75).
Amiens hortillonnage price
Prices range from 4.10 to 5.90 (free for children under 4)
Definition of a hortillon, hortillonnage
This is known as hortillon or hortillonnage. The modern term for a garden that has been reclaimed from the marshes of the Somme by consolidating the banks is hortillonnage. This type of space, which is usually found near water and whose surface is overgrown with recent plants such as cattails or reeds, can be seen in varying degrees of abandonment - some have flowers while others offer only abandoned tools. The name "hortillon" comes from the Picardy term used from the 15th century onwards and derives from the Low Latin hortellus, "little garden", a diminutive of the Classical Latin hortus, "garden".
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