🇫🇷 Amiens: France's "Little Venice" ~ A Perfect Weekend Escape

Just 1.5 hours by train (or 2 hours by car) from Paris, Amiens is a postcard-perfect destination for a relaxing weekend getaway. 🌟 First Impressions Compact & Walkable: The entire city can be explored on foot—ideal for lazy strolls! Fairytale Vibes: Quaint canals, colorful 2-story houses, and charming bridges make it a photographer’s dream. Transient Beauty: Though stunning, Amiens feels like a place to visit, not stay—a fleeting romance. ⛪ Must-Sees Around the Cathedral 1️⃣ Notre-Dame d'Amiens Twice the size of Paris' Notre-Dame (and 800 years old!). Little Train Tour: Hop on for a 30-min ride with French commentary—covers 7 districts! 🚂 2️⃣ "Little Venice" (Quartier Saint-Leu) Canal-side cafés, vibrant nightlife, and Instagrammable houses. ☕ Jean Trogneux Café: Skip their Amiens macarons—the Parisian ones here are better! 🌿 Les Hortillonnages: Floating Gardens 700-year-old marshland-turned-vegetable plots (300 hectares left). Why unique? Ultra-fertile soil = year-round harvests (vs. 2 seasons elsewhere!). How to explore: 🚤 Boat tours (€12, 45 mins—book at the entrance!) 🚴 Bike rentals along scenic paths (feels like Bois de Vincennes). (April visit: Mostly fallow fields but still a serene "urban jungle.") 📚 Jules Verne’s House The sci-fi legend lived here for 18 years—see his writing desk + Nautilus sketches. Little train stops here—don’t miss the tower’s spiral staircase! 🌸 Jardin des Plantes Tiny but pretty: A quick stop for flower snaps (best in spring!). 🚴 Bike Trails Dedicated lanes wind along canals—rent a bike and glide like a local! 💡 Why Visit? Less crowded than Bruges or Annecy’s canals. Half-day enough to see highlights. Foodie Bonus: Try ficelle picarde (Amiens’ crêpe specialty). #Amiens #LittleVenice #WeekendInFrance #HiddenGems 🇫🇷✨