Picardy
,
occupying the centre ground between Paris and the eastern end of the
English Channel, is a relatively unknown region of France, even for the
French. Though it is a historic province of northern France, though it
has attractive countryside as well as historic towns and cities and is
easily accessible from Paris, from Belgium and from the UK, it is not
one of the great tourist regions of France.
Picardy - or
Picardie as it is written in French - consists of three departments,
the
Oise (60),
centered on the city of Beauvais; the
Aisne (02) centered
on the city of Laon, and the
Somme
(60), centered on the regional capital Amiens. In historic terms, the
southern part of this modern region, including virtually all of the
Oise department, was not part of the Province of Picardy, but was added
to the region when it was created in the twentieth century.
Lying in the historic centre of action
of western Europe, in the triangle between Paris, Amsterdam and London,
Picardy is an area with a very rich history. It was in this part of
France that were fought some of the most famous battles of French and
European history, notably the battle of Crécy, and the battle
of the Somme. And in the course of the last thousand years, areas that
are now part of modern region of Picardy have been ruled over at
different times by the English, the Habsburgs, the Spanish and the
French.
In past centuries,
the region was relatively prosperous; its productive farmlands,
including a large expanse of flat or relatively flat land, created
wealth in local towns and cities, a wealth now reflected in the many
fine gothic churches and cathedrals of the region.
In modern economic terms, Picardy is a
region that is divided quite distinctly into two areas. The department
of the Oise and the southern tip of the Aisne, in the south of the
region, are economically attached to the Paris region; towns like
Beauvais, Chantilly and Compiègne, though towns in their own right,
form part of the outer circle of suburban Paris, with many people
commuting from here into Paris. Even Amiens, the regional capital, is
sufficiently close by commuter train to be home to many people working
in Paris; though in the case of Amiens, which is an industrial and
commercial city, people commute both ways.
As for the northern part of the region,
including the departments of the Somme and most of the Aisne, these
areas are largely agricultural. Agriculture in the region is
particularly centered on cereals and crops. And while cereal production
is the the principal agricultural activity of the region, Picardy is
also the leading French region for the production of sugar beet (37% of
total national production), France being the world's largest
producer of sugar beet.
Access: by
train from Paris Gare du Nord , or from Lille
Access by car
from the UK: the easiest way is to cross to Calais, then drive down
either of the motorways in the direction of Paris or Reims. Whether
taking the A16, the A26 or the A1 motorway, drivers driving south from
Calais will find themselves in Picardy within an hour.
By plane: Beauvais has an airport with direct low-cost
flights from the UK. Otherwise, Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) airport
is just a few kilometres from the southern limits of the Picardy region.
Some of
the main tourist attractions
and sites in Picardy
 Amiens cathedral.
Nineteenth century etching by Alphege Brewer
Private collection.
*****.
|
- Albert,
Thiepval (80): Sites and monuments to the victims of the
Great War, notably the Battle of the Somme.
- Amiens
(80): One of the finest of the main mediaeval gothic
cathedrals of France.
- Baie
de Somme (80): important wetland area at the mouth of the
river somme, famous for its wildlife. there is also a small steam
railway popular with tourists.
- Beauvais
(80): the tallest of the great gothic cathedrals that
were built in mediaeval France. Planned as the greatest cathedral in
France, Beauvais cathedral was never completed; but the part that was
built (the choir and the transept) is extremely impressive.
- Chantilly
(60): Magnificent chateau, rebuilt in the 19th century;
the chateau houses a museum, and is set in fine gardens and parkland
that includes a famous racecourse.
- Compiègne
(60). The Clairière de l'Armistice; the site of the
signing of the 1918 Armistice, that put an end to the first world war.
Reproduction of the railway carriage in which the Armistice was signed.
- Compiègne
(60). Chateau de Compiègne, fine 18th century royal
residence.
- Ermenonville
(60): Mer de Sable. Wild-west theme park, with plenty of
rides and attractions.
- Guise
(02): Le Familistère Godin. Like Titus Salt's Saltaire or
Owen's New Lanark, Godin's cooperative Familistère is a major example
of a social housing project set up by an enlightened manufacturer for
his workers, during the Industrial Revolution.
- Laon
(02): Attractive old walled city perched on a hilltop
overlooking the surrounding plains. Early gothic cathedral (1150-1180);
there is a funicular railway from the train station up to the town hall.
- Plailly
(60): Parc Astérix. One of France's most visited theme
parks, bringing to life the world of Asterix the Gaul and his friends.
- Soissons
(02) Small town with gothic cathedral containing fine
mediaeval stained-glass windows. Remains of the St jean des vignes
Abbey.
- St.
Quentin (02): small town famous for its gothic basilica,
largely rebuilt after the first world war. Also famed for its ensemble
of art-nouveau buildings, also put up during the post WW1 rebuilding.
The Musée Lécuyer has a major collection of works by the 18th century
portraitist Quentin Latour.
- Thiérarche
(02): A number of 14th century fortified churches grace
small towns and villages in this rural area
|
Going
further:
