River cruise rental Amiens - 1 river cruise

Where the Somme River Meets Centuries of Wonder

Imagine drifting along peaceful waters, surrounded by floating gardens and medieval charm, all within easy reach of Paris, Lille, and even London or Brussels. Amiens, the capital of the Somme department in northern France, offers precisely this enchanting experience for those seeking a barge river cruise holiday unlike any other.

Nestled in the Hauts-de-France region, Amiens sits approximately 120 kilometres north of Paris in the tranquil Somme River valley. The city enjoys an oceanic climate with mild winters and cool summers, making it an ideal destination for river cruising from spring through autumn. The Somme River, whose Celtic name "Samara" means "the summery river" or "quiet river," flows gently through a marshy valley dotted with lakes and peat marshes, creating one of the most attractive waterways in northern France.

Why Amiens Deserves a Place on Your Waterway Itinerary

Amiens holds a privileged geographical position at the crossroads of major European routes. The city is conveniently located between Paris, London, and Brussels, making it remarkably accessible for international travellers. The Canal de la Somme, built between 1770 and 1843, extends 156 kilometres and passes directly through the town to the English Channel, offering an alternative approach route from the coast to the waterways of central France.

A City Shaped by Water

The relationship between Amiens and its waterways runs deep. The city grew where the river narrowed, near the remarkable hortillonnages, marshy gardens criss-crossed by small canals. In the Middle Ages, this narrowing allowed for bridges and textile factories, while the canals provided energy for weavers, dyers, tanners and millers. Today, the river system continues to define Amiens, shaping both its character and economy.

The Canal de la Somme is ideal for pleasure cruising, passing through a marshy valley that feels worlds away from urban life. Commercial traffic has all but ceased, leaving the waterway peaceful and perfect for leisurely exploration. Boats can navigate from the charming harbour town of Saint-Valery-sur-Somme on the coast, through Amiens, and onwards towards central France.

The Little Venice of the North

Amiens has earned the nickname "Little Venice of the North" thanks to its remarkable network of canals, particularly in the Saint-Leu district and the extraordinary Hortillonnages. These canal-laced floating gardens along the Somme River represent a living tapestry of water and land that has existed for over 2,000 years.

The Hortillonnages: Floating Gardens of Time

The Hortillonnages are perhaps the most unique feature awaiting barge river cruise guests in Amiens. This 300-hectare network of cultivated marshes comprises a multitude of small islands surrounded by 65 kilometres of narrow canals called "rieux" in the local Picard dialect. The name derives from the Latin "hortus," meaning garden.

At the turn of the 20th century, nearly 250 market gardeners cultivated plots here. Today, although much of the marshland has been given over to ornamental gardening, about a dozen families still cultivate the land using traditional techniques. Their fruit and vegetables are sold every Saturday morning at the water market in the Saint-Leu quarter, where local gardeners arrive by boat to sell their fresh goods directly, just as their ancestors did centuries ago.

For many years, these unusual market gardeners supplied the city of Amiens with fresh produce and peat for heating. They used a particular type of flat-bottomed boat with raised ends called a "barque à cornet" to navigate the Hortillonnages and transport their produce. Visitors can still experience this tradition, gliding through a maze of waterways that offer an escape to another era.

Saint-Leu: Where Medieval Charm Meets Modern Delights

The Saint-Leu quarter is the oldest neighbourhood in Amiens, once home to artisans and weavers. It has retained its medieval charm with cobblestone streets and small bridges crossing the canals. The colourful house facades, made of wattle and daub, wood and brick, add a picturesque and welcoming touch.

Criss-crossed by branches of the Somme, Saint-Leu appeared in the Middle Ages when water and mills provided the necessary power for textile production. The district thrived as a centre for craftsmen, with trades such as weaving, tanning, and milling flourishing along the banks.

Today, designer boutiques, second-hand booksellers, antiques dealers and art galleries have sprung up in the rehabilitated historic buildings. The Quai Bélu is particularly enchanting, with colourful houses of typical Amiens architecture reflected in the water. At sunset, the atmosphere along this waterside promenade is simply unique, making it the perfect spot for an evening meal after a day of cruising.

Beyond the Obvious: Exclusive Experiences for Discerning Travellers

1. The Chroma Light Show at the Cathedral

Every summer evening from July to September, and during the Christmas market period, the UNESCO-listed Amiens Cathedral transforms into a living canvas through the "Chroma" son-et-lumière show. Since 1999, this free spectacle has allowed visitors to experience the cathedral as it would have appeared in medieval times, painted in bright, expressive tones.

Each performance lasts approximately 50 minutes and consists of two parts: a 20-minute dynamic animation of light and colour, followed by 30 minutes that allow viewers to admire the polychrome architecture. The lighting paints the ornate sculptures that adorn the cathedral's principal facade, transporting visitors back to the 13th century when these figures were vibrantly coloured.

2. The UNESCO-Listed Belfry and Its Prison History

The Beffroi d'Amiens is one of the 56 belfries in France and Belgium listed together as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built between 1406 and 1410, this 52-metre tower is actually the southernmost belfry of them all. What makes it particularly intriguing is its history as a prison and its role as the first Town Hall of Amiens.

After climbing around one hundred steps to the terrace, visitors are rewarded with breathtaking views of the city and the 18th-century clock tower. The belfry served as a lookout post for fires and a symbol of Amiens' independence from feudal powers. Today, guided tours are limited to a few times per month, making advance reservations essential.

3. In the Footsteps of Jules Verne

The famous author of "Around the World in Eighty Days" and "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" lived in Amiens for 34 years, from 1871 until his death in 1905. He even served on the city council for 15 years. The Maison de Jules Verne, where he resided from 1882 to 1900, is now a museum offering a space where the imagination and daily life of this visionary writer intertwine.

The house features over 700 heritage objects and documents, including his winter garden conservatory, period furniture, and authentic atmosphere of a 19th-century private mansion. Verne himself described Amiens as a "levelheaded, polite and even-tempered town...close enough to Paris to benefit from its reflection without the insufferable noise and sterile agitation."

4. The Saturday Morning Water Market

For an authentic local experience, visit the Saturday morning market in Saint-Leu where the remaining hortillons sell their produce. If you visit during the third weekend of June, you can witness the traditional "Marché sur l'Eau" (market on the water), when the gardeners dress in traditional costumes and arrive by boat to sell vegetables from their craft along the quay, recreating the activity of the hortillonnages market gardeners of centuries past.

5. The Picardy Museum and Regional Treasures

Housed in an opulent 19th-century mansion, the Musée de Picardie is one of the largest regional museums in France. Its collections stretch from prehistory to the 19th century, including works by El Greco, Camille Corot, Picasso and Miró. The emblematic staircase decorated with frescoes by Puvis de Chavannes creates a journey through art and regional history that complements any exploration of the waterways.

Essential Information for Your Itinerary

Arriving in Amiens

The Amiens maritime services are located at the Port d'Amont, less than an hour's navigation from the Lamotte lock (number 16) and just minutes from the Amiens lock (number 17). This central location is ideal for exploring the city's tourist sites.

For those combining land and water travel, Amiens train station offers frequent connections: the journey from Paris takes approximately one hour, while trains from Lille take roughly one hour and twenty minutes. By car, the city is only 1.5 hours from Paris Charles de Gaulle airport.

Local Specialities to Savour

No visit to Amiens is complete without tasting the regional cuisine:

• Ficelle Picarde: a savoury crêpe filled with ham, mushrooms and cream, a beloved Picardy speciality
• Macarons d'Amiens: almond-paste biscuits that were favourites of Catherine de Medici
• Fresh vegetables from the Hortillonnages, labelled "Les t'cho légumes des hortillons"
• La BlueReide: the blue beer of Amiens, the first blue beer brewed in France

Timing Your Visit

The best time to explore the Hortillonnages by boat is from April to October, when the waterways come alive with waterlilies, water irises, and abundant wildlife including great crested grebes, swans and moorhens. From May to August, waterlilies shimmer on the ponds, creating picture-perfect scenes.

If visiting during summer, the International Garden Festival transforms the Hortillonnages into an open-air museum, with contemporary art installations scattered across the islands. Each year, some 50 artworks by young landscape artists, architects and visual artists are installed throughout the gardens, accessible only by boat.

A Cathedral That Twice Impressed UNESCO

The Cathédrale Notre-Dame d'Amiens is not merely large; it is extraordinary. As the largest Gothic building in France by volume at 200,000 cubic metres, it could contain Notre-Dame de Paris twice over. The nave soars to 42 metres, the highest of any medieval church in France, while the building stretches 145 metres in length.

Built in a remarkably short period between 1220 and approximately 1270, the cathedral presents an unusual unity of style. Its principal facade features a richly carved gallery below an immense rose window and more than 700 statues depicting biblical scenes. The cathedral has been called "the Parthenon of Gothic architecture" and the sculptures are collectively known as "The Stone Encyclopaedia of the Bible."

The building houses several treasures, including the relic of Saint John the Baptist, 110 carved wooden choir stalls, the famous Weeping Angel sculpture, and a labyrinth on the floor designed for pilgrims. The labyrinth stretches 234 metres and dates from the 13th century, representing a symbolic pilgrimage.

Remembrance and Reflection

The Somme region holds particular significance for visitors from the UK, USA, Australia and Canada. The surrounding area played a crucial role in World War I, with the Battle of Amiens in August 1918 marking the opening of the Allies' Hundred Days Offensive that helped end the conflict. The peaceful waterways today offer a contemplative contrast to this history, allowing travellers to reflect on the past while enjoying the serenity of the present.

Your Floating Gateway to Northern France

Amiens offers something increasingly rare in our hurried world: the opportunity to slow down, to drift through centuries of history at a gentle pace, and to discover a France that feels both authentically medieval and refreshingly undiscovered. The network of canals and waterways provides natural pathways through floating gardens, past colourful historic quarters, and beneath the shadow of one of Europe's greatest cathedrals.

Book a barge river cruise now and experience this remarkable corner of France where water and heritage intertwine in the most enchanting ways. Whether you seek cultural enrichment, peaceful relaxation, or the joy of exploring hidden gems far from the usual tourist routes, Amiens awaits with open waters and countless discoveries.