Holidays in Picardie, France

The Picardie region in the north-east of France is an area of contrasts, stretching from the Channel coast through farmland to wooded areas and natural parks. The towns and cities are well-known for their medieval architecture, while there are a number of First World War battlefields and cemeteries in the area around the Somme.

Circuit of Remembrance

There is a route through the eastern part of Picardie, the Somme valley, for visitors to follow, taking them to battlefield sites, cemeteries and memorials dedicated to those who fought in this area of Europe during the First World War. These include the French-British memorial and cemetery at Thievpal, one of the highlights of the route, and number of fortresses and breastworks that have remained untouched since the two major battles in this region, in 1916 and 1918. Visitors can also learn more about the fighting in the First World war at two museums; the Somme 1916 museum in the town of Albert allows tourists to see what life was like in the trenches while the Historial de la Grande Guerre in Peronne is a more straightforward historical museum, detailing the story of the First World War in France.

Amiens

Amiens is the capital of Picardie and is famous for its Gothic cathedral, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the largest cathedral in France, complete with detailed statuary on the outside and beautiful carved pews inside. The medieval district of Saint-Leu, where the craftsmen lived and worked centuries ago, is also nicknamed Little Venice of the North, with half-timbered buildings and narrow streets along the side of canals. There are also a number of interesting museums in the town of Amiens, including the Picardie museum featuring collections of archaeological items and art and a museum dedicated to the writer Jules Verne, who lived in the town for 18 years.

Just outside Amiens is the Samara Park, a celebration of pre historical culture and achievements, with exhibits from the discovery of fire to the end of the Gallo-Roman period. The museum, which is located within a 25-hectare park only 15 km from Amiens, features outside exhibits, such as life-size models of human dwellings, and live demonstrations of activities like pottery and flint-making with actors in costume. Children will also enjoy actually joining in with some of the activities like fire-making and a number of early hunting techniques.



The Author writes for Holiday Home Rentals who have a selection of Gites in Picardie and Villas in France which can be rented direct from their owners.