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The hortillonnages
300 hectares of gardens extend in the middle of the agglomeration amiénoise. They are intersected with 55 kilometers the rieux one (small channels). The discovery of this site is carried out only in the boat, or with foot, since the tow path.
The hortillonnages are old marshes made up in the beginning of thirteen arms of the Sum and ditches.
The Romans gave the name "hortus" (gardens) to these grounds. They were the first to drain the marshes then to maintain the cultures there market-gardening to nourish their troops.
The cultures gradually extended on the site and the market gardening amiénoise made its full great strides in XIXè century.
The peasants exploited also the hortillonnages in order to extract the peat which, once dried, was used as fuel.

Association for the protection and the safeguard of the market gardens proposes guided tours of the site the every day starting from 14h, of April 1 to October 31 (subject to the conditions of navigation). The visit lasts 50mn.

Association pour la Protection et Sauvegarde des Hortillonnages :
54, boulevard de Beauvillé
80000 Amiens
Tél. : 03.22.92.12.18
.