🌿 Hortillonnages
Floating gardens of the River Somme near Amiens, France
📋 Fast Facts
- Located near Amiens in the Picardy region of northern France
- Network of approximately 110 kilometres of canals through marshy terrain
- Medieval origin; cultivated since the 13th century
- UNESCO-recognised cultural landscape and wetland ecosystem
The Hortillonnages are a network of artificial islands and canals carved from the marshlands of the River Somme valley near Amiens. Created in the medieval period, these floating gardens represent one of Europe's oldest agricultural systems, with origins traceable to the 13th century. The intricate waterway system has earned Amiens comparison to Venice, though the character and function of these wetlands remain distinctly French and provincial ...