The hortillonnages, a maze of water
Inherited from Roman times, Amiens’ floating gardens form a tangle of market plots separated by narrow canals called rieux. You glide through on a traditional horned punt, in near silence, among willows and flower beds. Time seems to stretch, voices drop and the hour becomes secondary. It is hard to imagine a more poetic date to get to know each other.
Saint-Pierre park and the Somme banks
On the edge of the floating gardens, Saint-Pierre park offers lawns, ponds, wooden pontoons and picnic areas. People come to run, read or chat on a bench. The renewed quays of the Somme invite a walk or a cycle ride into the city centre. On fine evenings, students gather here before heading to the terraces, and conversations drift on under the plane trees.
La Hotoie and Saint-Acheul
Further west, the Hotoie promenade wraps its ponds in an avenue of tall trees, right next to the zoo. To the east, the Saint-Acheul archaeological garden recalls that Amiens is one of the cradles of European prehistory. On Lyad, members from Amiens share their favourite green corners; it is up to you to find someone to breathe some fresh air with.
Date ideas
- Floating gardens
- Somme river
- Saint-Pierre park
- Horned punts
- Saint-Acheul archaeological garden
- Hotoie ponds
- Hotoie promenade
