To help you better understand

Here is a video of someone who also took the tour down the canal. They posted this on youtube and I wanted to share. Enjoy ♥ 

More pictures from the trip

My first trip along the floating gardens

 When I came to Amiens, I was really eager to fit into the local culture. When I questioned the locals about things I could do to understand the culture better, 7 times out of 10, people would recommend I see and take the boat tour of the Hortillionnage. So a few of us internationals took the day to picnic and then take the ride down the canal. When we arrived, we were warmly greeted by the tour guide, a nice older man whose family had lived in Amiens for generations. We started out the journey going through a beautiful area that was nicely manicured. From where we were, we could see a cathedral in the distance. The tour guide started by telling us a brief history of Amiens. It was hard to follow at first since I was still getting adjusted to French but after a while I understood everything. About ten minutes into the trip we entered into a wooded area where the trees were very high. It had a very surreal appearance, almost as if I had stepped into a movie set. Once we cleared that part, we came to a clearing where we could clearly see the gardens and different plots of land.

Some of the gardens were nicer than others but the guide assured us that some of the gardens had recently been harvested. Also, during the trip, the guide gave us a lot of information on the local wildlife and plants. We saw countless number of ducks, fish, birds and, of course, beautiful butterflies. At one point during the trip a cluster of butterflies landed on our boat. It was a very serene moment. Another aspect of the trip that we really enjoyed was seeing some of the locals fishing. They added an authenticity to the entire experience and some would even smile and wave as we went by. We were very quiet at those parts to make sure not to disturb the fish in the water. We also passed many hortillions doing their work. They were very friendly as well and waved. Further on into the the trip, we started to pick up a bit of speed. We passed more hortillions but this time they were in their own canoes, doing some upkeep along the borders of their gardens. The guide explained, that some of the roots went so deep and could only be reached out in the water.

 The whole experience was a very reflective time for me. Nature usually has the affect on people but I had never experienced something like that. The guide told us that all of the locals have done this tour at least twice and that you couldn't truly consider yourself a Picardie resident unless you had traveled to Amiens to witness the floating gardens.I have done it the mandatory two times and I would love to go again before I leave but this time I would like to go by foot or bike. The guide recommended we come as often as possible, and use different methods because each time was a new discovery of something overlooked the last time. I totally agree with his assessment and can't wait to go back. ♥

A little background about the floating gardens.

 As I mentioned in my previous post, the people of the Somme-Picardie region love markets. A lot of the cultural things that take place in Amiens revolve around gardening and markets. The one topic in particular which my blog will focus on stems from this love of nature that the Picardie people have: the Hortillonnage d’Amiens. So what exactly is the Floating Gardens of Amiens? Simply put, it is a cluster of small gardens, located on little islands of land that surround canals. The floating gardens can be accessed by the public on land, either on foot or by bike but can also be accessed by boat, which, in my opinion, is the best way to go. To give a little background about the site, here are some historical facts courtesy of the Picardie tourist boards and the Hortillionnage brochure.

-          ** At the beginning of the century, the Hortillionnage was entered by garderners/farmers known as “hortillions”. They would plant and cultivate their plots of land by a canoe called “rieux”.

Yearly Hortillonnage market to honour past tradition 

 

       **  The area was considered blessed by the gods because of the fertilliness of the land and the quality of the vegetation it produces.

    **  In the past, 3 days of the week were dedicated to a big market in front of The Cathedral in Amiens using the harvest. The weekly market tradition still exist but no longer with harvest from the Hortillionnage.

        **  It is believed that The Amiens Cathedral (world’s largest gothic cathedral) was built on fertile lands tended to by 2 religious hortillions.

The agriculture spirit of the city is very much ingrained into the history and culture of Amiens, touching all aspects of life within this city.

What is this about anyways?

Hi! 

My name is Shaunet! I am studying in Amiens, France. One word that best describes this place is ancient. With it's cobblestone roads, Gothic cathedrals, and multiple markets, I truly feet as if I have stepped into a paralell dimension where old (previously mentioned things) and new (cars, fast food places, graffiti) work together to create this wonderful atmosphere. 

When I first arrived, I was immediately captivated by the look and feel of the city. Opposite of the modern buildings found in Canada, Amiens has a very old infrastructure. It is not uncommon to see buildings and houses built of brick and old shingles. To add to the feel of the city, there is also a canal that runs through the older part of Amiens. It is a breathtaking site, especially for a North American used to modern buildings. I will admit, after the honeymoon wore off, I was a bit annoyed with the archaic look of everything but in my past 8 months, I have begun to appreciate the beauty in older architecture and nature, in general. And this brings me to the reason for my blog!

Since being here, I have noticed how important agriculture is to the region (Somme-Picardie). This city is loaded with flowers and fresh veg/fruit markets.  Buying local produce and flowers isn't just a new trend here, it is a way of life for the people of Amiens. Every Wednesday and Saturday, a large market is opened up at the main part of the city where all types of produces, meats, cheese, flowers and other products can be found. It has really piqued my interest in the area of nature gardening and one part of Amiens in particular: Hortillonnage d'Amiens, which combines both the market, gardening and nature in general. For that reason I have dedicated this blog to the topic of the Floating Gardens of Amiens