Pillar 1:
Ecological transition in the field of culture

Priority 2:
Preserving nature in urban areas when hosting events

Every year from May to October, Amiens hosts the Hortillonages International Garden Festival, welcoming visitors to follow contemporary art trails across a group of garden blocks on the banks of the Somme river. The festival, located in a 300-hectare natural site in the heart of the city, supports architectural and artistic creations.

Artistic creations are designed to take full account of contemporary sustainable development issues and changing environmental challenges: preserving the ecosystem and protecting weakening riverbanks, water resources, food production and food quality.

The festival also aims to promote and preserve Amiens’ green heritage by offering meetings and workshops tailored to the needs of the public. It equally aims to contribute to the social economy by distributing the food produced in the gardens to the community and promoting social integration.

Over the past 14 editions, nearly 208 gardens and installations have been created by 322 landscape gardeners, visual artists and architects, attracting over 575,000 visitors and employing workers from integration projects to maintain gardens and civic service volunteers to welcome visitors.

In 2024, the international garden festival received the European Garden Award 2024 for the most beautiful contemporary European park and garden.