Historical Picardy
Filed in France
France itself was born in this northern province between the Marne and the Somme – for it was here that the Franks – ancestors of the French – set up home.
A land of culture, the cradle of Gothic art and an unspoiled environment: Picardy is a treasure-trove of art and natural beauty. Its cathedrals at Beauvais, Amiens, Senlis, Laon or Noyon illustrate the rise of Gothic art as it spread across France and Europe. The charm of its small Medieval town of Senlis or the riches of the châteaux at Pierrefonds, Coucy, Chantilly, Bagatelle and Compiègne, surrounded by magnificent gardens, parks and forests set a nostalgic mood that’s enhanced during festivals, son et lumières shows and Picardy games. Another pleasure inherited from the past – that of good food – is assiduously cultivated: ficelle picarde, salt meadow lamb, gâteau battu and other abundant products of the generous environment. Picardy produce has what it takes to give the most demanding gourmet an appetite!
Take the trouble to explore, and you’ll find Picardy to be one of the most rewarding provinces in France. Picardie’s coastline is the least urbanised in all France with miles upon miles of beautiful sandy beaches and dunes. Great for windsurfing, land yachting, sailing, swimming and building castles. But there are lots of real castles too, often tucked away in the vast expanses of oak and beech forests (largest in all Europe). If it’s a walking break you’re after or even a cycling break, the choice is yours – choose between coastline and forests, vineyards (yes, aoc vineyards of Champagne do stretch into southern Picardy) and wide open countryside.
There’s Amiens, of course, capital of Picardy, barely 90mins drive from Calais, ideal for a short break in France. A bustling University town, home of Jules Verne, with a glorious Gothic Cathedral (UNESCO World Heritage Site). Just one of many historic towns with world-class cathedrals or châteaux.
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