Amiens

With its magnificent Gothic cathedral, picturesque canals, and quaint streets, the capital of the Somme department enchants visitors. While everything might be a bit rougher here in the city on the Somme, the houses have a bit of an English touch and lack some of the shine and grandeur typical of French metropolises like Nancy or Metz – not to mention the two-hour distant Paris. However, Amiens possesses a great deal of charm.

The floating gardens, known as Hortillonnages, are another attraction in Amiens. They consist of a series of canals and islands, on which hundreds of floating gardens thrive. The locals use them to grow vegetables and flowers. You can take a boat tour through the canals, admire the lush vegetation, and learn about the history and tradition of the Hortillonnages. Unless it happens to be Ascension weekend and all the boat tours are fully booked...