Quai des Hortillonages, Floating gardens network in Amiens, France
The Quai des Hortillonages is a network of vegetable gardens in Amiens divided by canals into small islands. These waterways connect hundreds of plots together and allow access to the gardens by boat.
These gardens began in the Middle Ages when vegetable growers used islands between the Somme channels to grow their crops. The method proved successful for centuries and still shapes how this area looks today.
The gardeners who work here grow vegetables and flowers that they sell at the local market, keeping old farming traditions alive. Visitors can watch their daily work and see how the waterways shape life in these plots.
Visitors explore these gardens best by boat since the canals are the main route through the area. It is helpful to wear comfortable clothes and be prepared for trips that may happen in light rain.
A small part of these gardens is still worked by families who sell their fresh harvests regularly at the local market. These producers are hard to spot and represent a trading method that has almost disappeared.
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