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Picardie

• Departments:
  • Aisne (02), Oise (60), Somme (80)
• Amiens city (80) and Somme area
  • Districts:
    • Saint-Leu, down-town, Saint-Acheul, english district, Saint-Maurice, La Hotoie.
  • Monuments:
    • Cathedral, show in colors the night.
    • Amiens Jules Verne's house.
    • The Dewailly clock created at the end of the 19th century, a few years after the building of the train station. It was moved during the 2nd world war. (Dewailly is the name of the former mayor).
    • Corbie Abbey, 20 km from Amiens.
    • Castle of Long, between Amiens and Abbeville.
    • Saint-Riquier Abbey next to Abbeville city.
    • Farm "de Drugy" in St-Riquier, the building of the old castle, where Joan of Arc was imprisoned in 1430.
    • Rue belfry has been recognized as world heritage by UNESCO (near Marquenterre park).
    • Albert Basilica (35 km from Amiens)
  • Museums:
    • Amiens Picardy museum reopened in March 2020 after restoration work and expansion.
    • Berny museum, Amiens (regional history, objects, furnishing)
    • Hall of unified command - Doullens city.
    • Lombart museum Doullens (Painting Corot, Chardin, Daubigny.)
    • The museum Somme 1916 Albert (30 km from Amiens).
    • Sir John Monash center Villers-Bretonneux officially opened in April 2018
    • Great War Historial in Peronne (35 mi from Amiens)
    • Thiepval Memorial (45 km from Amiens), a new phase of restoration will be starting on March 2020 and continuing through to 2021, various parts will be inaccessible.
    • Aeronautical museum in Albert (30 km from Amiens)
  • Specific:
    • Abel Godbert's former restaurant frequented by officers during the 1st world war, was located at the current location of the Picardie comedy. (Jacobins street),
    • "Hortillonnages" floating gardens: Patchwork of market gardens on the Amiens city centre, from a few meters away from the cathedral, visit possible in a small boat, boarding in the Somme river,
    • Picquigny castle in restoration, is used for shooting film. The peace treaty signed between the King of France Louis XI and the King of England Edward IV was signed in this village.
    • Samara archaeological park (0,6 mi from Picquigny)
    • The underground city of Naours with soldiers graffitis (12 mi from Amiens),
    • Crecy forest near Abbeville, 4 300 hectares, the location of the Battle of Crécy - 14th Century (32 mi from Amiens and 20 mi from Somme Bay). Crécy forest for hiking
    • Somme bay, member of the Most Beautiful Bays in the world (preserved from mass tourism),
    • Marquenterre park, naturel reserve, with huts for photographers, ornithologists. (31 mi from Amiens).
    • Boat trip in Somme bay (departure St Valery sur Somme)
    • The bunker of Hourdel to Cayeux-sur-mer (2nd world war) not far from the Brighton lighthouse and grey seals to see (The best way to observe with the binoculars is with a local guide).
    • Valloires garden on seacoast with rose of Picardy.
    • Land sailing in the Somme Bay, riding in the Bay.

  

  Amiens cathedral

• Beauvais, (60) Oise area.
  • Monuments
    • Beauvais cathedral
    • The Chantilly castle with painting gallery and princely apartments furnished (33 mi from Beauvais). Chantilly is also know for the Horse racing with racetrack.
    • Pierrefonds: a fortified castle recreated by Viollet-le-Duc at the request of Napoleon III, (film shooting).
    • Compiegne castle (33 mi from Beauvais).
    • Noyon Cathedral (80 km from Beauvais).
  • Museums
    • MUDO in Beauvais (paintings, sculptures) near the Cathedral,
    • The tapestries of the Beauvais factory,
    • Armistice museum to Compiegne in the forest.
    • Aviation Museum at Warlus (7 km from Beauvais)
  • Specific
    • Armistice was signed at 11 am on the 11th November in 1918 at Rethondes in the forest of Compiègne.
    • The teahouse of the Roses garden Compiegne (Booking for lunch, snacks, cup-cakes pastries).
    • Garden of the painter Andre van Beek to St-Paul - 60650
    • Maladrerie St-Lazare (Leproserie) with a garden of medieval inspiration.
• Laon (02) Aisne area
  • Monuments
    • Laon cathedral
    • Festieux castle
    • Laon chapel (the Templiers Chapel)
    • Saint-Quentin Basilic
    • Villers-Cotterêts castle (from 60 km),
  • Museums
    • Museum of art and archeology, installed in the former commanding of the knights templer.
    • Antoine Lecuyer museum for the "De la Tour" paintings in Saint-Quentin, city of the pastels.
    • Butterfly museum - Saint-Quentin.
  • Specific
    • Undergrounds to visit in Laon.
    • The Dragon's Cave - Chemin des Dames - (25 km from Laon)
    • Saint-Quentin city, rebuilt after the world war in Art deco style. There is a Basilic and underground visit.
    • Parc d'Isle - Isle Park with swamp: nature reserve with special protection area, species proctected.
    • Touristic railway by CFTV association. (Lunch in the train with booking, St-Quentin, Origny-St-Benoite).

   

  COOKING

• Regional specialities:
  • Pâté d'Amiens: Duck pâté of Amiens
  • "Ficelles picardes" (salted thin pancake filled)
  • Flamiche tart: Leek tart.
  • Cheeses: Rollot cheese, in heart shape, the Picardy Tomme cheese is made in the Oise. (The south of Picardy).
  • Honey with linden (silver medal 2014 – Paris international Agricultural show).
  • Brioche cake from picardie called "Gâteau battu" "beaten cake" (whipped cake).
  • Chantilly cream: invented at the castle.
  • Rabottes: Apples baked
• Beverage:
  • All is possible but the traditional beverage here is cider. Beer is more frequent in the North region.
  • Rhubarb nectar, the Perry (Poiré): a fermented drink made with pear, served as an aperitif or as part of a Kir.
  • Mead (hydromel) of Picardy, a drink made from fermented honey. More usual in Oise, Aisne area, (contests).
  • Champagne! a few producers in the Aisne sector.

  LOGISTIC

• Transportation:
  • Airport:

    No international airport in Picardy, use CDG Paris airport.

  • Train:
    • To go from Paris to Amiens by train, do not use the TGV (speed train), it is longer, the TGV station does not exist in Amiens, you arrive in a lost village (Locals call the beets station) and you must then take the bus. Take a "Corail" train to go from Paris to Amiens. (About 1H)
    • Beauvais
  • Tramway: No tramway for Amiens
  • Bycycle: Cycling tours in the Bay of Somme.
• Accomodations:
  • Bed and breakfast & Holiday cottages
  • Guestroom to Beaucourt-sur-l'Ancre : www.14-18sommechambres.com
  • Hôtels
    • Local hotels: Hôtel Corderies Saint-Valery-sur-Somme.
    • International hotels: Mercure Amiens ; All Seasons Amiens.
  • Castles:
    • Bagatelles at Abbeville (80),
    • Bertichères (60) - 19 bedrooms,
    • Bertangles (80) - Receptions and filmings.
    • Flixecourt (80) - Company seminar
    • Naours (80)
    • Picquigny (Remains) used for filmings.
• Restaurants:
  • Breweries, bistrots, creperies (Pancake restaurants),
  • Local restaurants with good traditional dishes and also gastronomic restaurants,
  • Pizzerias, self-service restaurant, fast food for the impatients.
  • Restaurants in St Leu district in front of the Somme river, and in the Cathedral zone for Amiens.

 

INFO

• Events:
  • April, bird and Nature Festival on Somme Bay,
  • April, International Kite Festival to Berck sur Mer, on seacoast.
  • April, Anzac day - memorial Villers-Bretonneux.
  • May, the flower show in Chantilly, gardeners from all over Europe.
  • June, Rose Festival in Gerberoy.
  • June, Water market-Amiens (near Saint-Leu district).
  • June, Diane award, horse racing in Chantilly city with a chic picnic and stylish hats.
  • October, Secondhand trade - Amiens (15 000 m2)
  • December, Christmas market to Amiens and main cities.
• Infos:
  • In 2016, politicians have renamed our region by "Hauts-de-France" Highs of France, included the North region.
• Regional products:
  • Postal cards, cathedral plates (near of Amiens cathedral)
  • Chocolat tiles, Amiens' macaron (Ancient recipe of macaron).
  • Honey (different producers including honey from the Somme Bay), Picardy mustard.