Located around 10 minutes by foot from our hotel, the famed “Hortillonnages” (floating gardens) give a touch of pastoral beauty to the city. These small islands of greenery surrounded by canals make for the city’s green lung. Discovering them in a traditional rowing boat is an absolute must!
Truly floating gardens in every sense of the word, the Hortillonnages can be defined as little parcels of market and ornamental garden, completely surrounded with small canals or streams. These plots of land have been kept since the very beginning of the Roman era, and still have their special features, remaining untouched by the rest of the city’s development and forming a beautiful green setting not far from the centre. Discover these many secret gardens aboard a traditional flat-bottomed canal boat, known as a “barque à cornet”.
Every Saturday, the “hortillons” (name given to the vegetable growers at the Hortillonnages) sell all their products at a market on the water in the Saint-Leu district. Discover this vibrant, colourful market, where you can buy fresh fruit and vegetables for a little make-shift picnic by the water!
