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600,000 years of history. Picardy is a region of amazing
archaeological sites, picturesque villages (rated as
among "the most beautiful villages in France"), six splendid
gothic cathedrals, numerous royal castles (so popular
with film makers) and a multitude of abbeys and churches
in Cistercian, Romanesque and primitive or flamboyant
Gothic. Wars has also let their prints in this area which
has so often become a battlefield due to its strategic
position. Remembrance in Picardy is inevitably linked
to the battle of the Somme in 1916, the bloodiest episode
of the First World War (involving troops of 35 nationalities;
1,353,000 men missing, injured, or killed) surpassing
even the horrendous record of Verdun.
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Looking at the landscapes of
Picardy, you understand why they have inspired writers
as varied as Paul Claudel, Chateaubriand, Jean-Jacques
Rousseau, and Colette. Picardy combines three different
types of countryside: a beautiful and romantic unspoilt
shoreline, plateaux and forests to lure you away, and the
tranquillity of canals and rivers. It has become a haven
for a remarkable range of flora and fauna. Explore the
bird sanctuary of the majestic Somme bay, with its dunes,
rabbit warrens and marshes. |
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Picardy offers a wealth of different ways to enjoy a
break. At your disposal: 2000km of roads and pathways,
a wild coastline, numerous rivers, vast forests, ponds
and marshes. Picardy is also the region of the horse
par excellence: with several thousand horses, of which
the "Henson" is a regional thoroughbred, a hundred equestrian
centres, prestigious race courses, the bridle paths of
Compiègne, the wide expanses of the Somme Bay, and the
flagship Chantilly - known as "the capital of French
horsemanship" with its Living Horse Museum. Enjoy Picardie!
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www.cr-picardie.fr :
we advice you to visit the Tourist section of this web site
of the Regional Council. It offers a complete and clear presentation
of the region through its characteristics and tourist delights.
www.somme-tourisme.com
: discover the beautiful bay of Somme, Amiens and its cathedral...
Thanks to this website, you will find all the information
you need to prepare and to enjoy your stay in Somme : housing,
heritage and culture, nature...
www.amiens.com/tourisme :
discover the hidden treasures of the main city of Picardie,
Amiens, thanks to the official website of the tourism info
center.
www.aisne.com/chemin_des_dames
: a interesting and complete website about The Chemin des
Dames, a real natural fortified castle and a millenial witness
of French history. It is well-known for the bloody fighting
of World War I.
last update: January 25, 2001
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