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.