Amiens and the Bay of the Somme

Exciting visits in a city on a human scale

You will soon realise that Amiens cannot be visited in a hurry. On a human scale, the city allows these slow strolls along the banks of the Somme, but also in the heart of the city centre. You can't leave Amiens without visiting the Cathedral, which is celebrating its 800th anniversary until September 2021 as well as the 40th anniversary of its first UNESCO inscription (1981-2021). Its dimensions leave you dreaming. It is the largest cathedral in France and is twice as large as its Parisian cousin. It also has the highest nave in the country, with 42.30 metres under the vaults. The light that shines through the stained glass windows dresses the cathedral in magnificent colours.
The general harmony is completed by elements that the eye can linger on for a long time: the central labyrinth, the bronze recumbents, the golden Virgin and the famous "Weeping Angel". Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this monument deserves to be celebrated and to be admired. During the summer and until September, at nightfall, the cathedral is magnified thanks to a sound and light show; this consists of a formidable performance on the façade.
If you follow the Somme towards the city centre, you will arrive in the heart of the Saint-Leu district, an ideal place to stop on a terrace, take time to have a drink and contemplate the cathedral, which reveals itself from another angle. In the Middle Ages, this district of the city, supplied with water by the arms of the Somme, was home to weavers, dyers, tanners and millers. It was then one of the most disadvantaged districts of the city. Nicknamed "Little Venice" by Louis XI, the district has been transformed over the years to become what we know today: a trendy and student district, very lively at weekends. The area has small, narrow houses along the canals, a bit like Amsterdam, and is home to a number of cultural addresses (independent cinema, theatres, auditoriums).
Want to go back in time while travelling without moving? Go to the house of Jules Verne in Amiens! Your mind will then take you far beyond the Picardy metropolis. In this beautiful mansion, where he lived from 1882 to 1900, he found inspiration for thirty novels, most of which were his Extraordinary Journeys. In each room, we turn the pages of the book of his life, we understand the sources of his inspirations and we apprehend the mixture of a provided documentation and a brilliant imagination. In his study, books, maps, notes and pen holders take you behind the scenes of his work. When you see the globe on the desk, childhood memories come flooding back. Our reveries resurface around the famous Around the World in 80 Days, which remains the most translated French novel in the world. And to dive a little deeper into the world of Jules Verne, we enter his reconstructed boat. In his cabin is the writing desk where the writer began writing Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea in 1869. If Jules Verne found his inspiration in Amiens, he was also very involved there, notably as a town councillor. One of the imprints he left there is a magnificent circus, the construction of which he ardently defended, before giving the inauguration speech. This building - which today bears his name - still has a real soul. The seats are still upholstered in the famous red mohair velvet. The dome, which spans 44 metres, is majestic, colourful and decorated with an eight-pointed star. With such a decor, you are immediately in the circus atmosphere even before the artists enter. The quality of the programme is as high as the starry ring: traditional forms and contemporary derivatives of the circus arts, young talent and international stars, all to the amazement of young and old alike...
After three years of work, the reopening of the Musée de Picardie on¹ March 2020 was eagerly awaited! It is therefore, as you have understood, a museum not to be missed. Designed in 1867 on the model of the Louvre of Napoleon III, it was the first building in France to be a museum and even served as a model for other cities. Classified as a historical monument in 2012, the establishment has renovated its entire^first floor and the painted decorations. The works are now displayed on three levels: the basement is devoted to archaeology, the ground floor to the medieval collections and sculptures, and the^first floor to paintings. A journey through the history of the Western world, from prehistory to contemporary art, via Egyptian and Greek antiquity, the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. The new layout and museography help to better highlight the 3,000 works that await you inside, such as Albert Maignan's spectacular painting Les Voix du tocsin, which is now back on display in the Grand Salon. Brighter and more modern, the museum also offers spaces conducive to relaxation with a chapel where you can enjoy readings and games in an amazing setting..

A city to go green

Amiens is a wonderful stopover in natural areas where it is good to walk along the Somme, on the towpath, a 160-kilometre-long fully developed bank along the river. Starting from the Saint-Pierre Park, the path winds its way through the heart of the hortillonnages, the city's real green lung. You can take a leisurely stroll along it and it is also very popular with joggers and cyclists. You will have the opportunity to observe the decorated bridges of some private houses along the canals and their recreational gardens. The route is 7 kilometres round trip. On the way back, you can enjoy a magnificent view of the cathedral. If you stray a little from the towpath, you can also discover an amazing market garden in the middle of the city, less than ten minutes from the cathedral. The hortillonnages are best visited with a guide in a traditional horn boat, on part of the 65 km of canals that criss-cross these ancient marshes. The mosaic of gardens is delightful, with small vegetable gardens, beautiful floral decorations or simply perfectly laid out places to relax. The hortillonnages are also a wonderful breeding ground for the city's market gardening. These vegetables can be found on the stalls of the waterside market in the Saint-Leu district on Saturday mornings as well as on several other markets in the city. The town and its surrounding countryside are also full of local producers who are happy to welcome you directly to their farms.
The privileged area of the hortillonnages is even more attractive during the International Garden Festival, the 2021 edition of which should be held from May. Over the course of its 11 editions, this Festival has welcomed more than 450,000 visitors who have come to admire 170 ephemeral or permanent creations created by landscape gardeners, architects, visual artists and designers in the middle of these market gardens. During the last edition, during the summer months, the Festival, together with the Amiens tourist office, had the good idea of offering wellness time to recharge your batteries on the Ile aux Fagots, accessible on foot. Visitors could enjoy musical performances (musical siestas) or poetic performances (storytelling). Workshops on self-massage, sylvotherapy, singing and the development of the five senses also attracted a family audience.

Numerous outings and outdoor activities

Less than 2 hours from Paris, Amiens is the place to be for urbanites looking for fresh air. Several large green spaces allow you to walk and simply breathe. The Saint-Pierre park is a perfect example. Close to the Saint-Leu district and the city centre, the 22-hectare contemporary landscaped park highlights the water and vegetation of the district. It is the ideal place for a family picnic, a game of football or basketball or for a simple stroll while watching the swans and ducks in the water. The Hotoie park is also an ideal playground for the whole family. It adjoins the Amiens Métropole zoo and its 250 animals. Involved in the conservation of endangered species, it has found a second youth and welcomes no less than 150,000 visitors each year. Two new areas have been inaugurated and the arrival of the tigers has already convinced visitors. And because green is everywhere in Amiens, the city is full of superb gardens, such as the very successful Jardin des Plantes.
A little further from the city, Samara, the large Prehistoric Nature Park, also offers a green setting of around 30 hectares. While walking around, you will be immersed in a fascinating era. From the creation of fire to the Gallo-Roman period, 600,000 years of human history are vividly recounted through astonishing exhibitions and activities.
If you want to get some exercise during your stay, you can visit the hortillonnages in a kayak or cycle along the Somme on the Véloroute (cycle route) which has been built along the towpath. It offers 125 km of very pleasant cycle tracks linking the Somme Bay to Abbeville. To set off on the Bay of the Somme side, you can start at the Montières lock, in the Grand Marais park. To go to the other side, go to the Pont d'Amont car park. These routes are punctuated by remarkable viewpoints and Valley Houses that will welcome you for a well-deserved break. And if you're into fun sports, go a few kilometres away to the Dreuil-lès-Amiens water ski lift. Towed at 30 km/h, you can have fun on water skis, wakeboards or kneeboards! We also advise you to try the only natural rafting spot in the north of France, at Picquigny. Fun with friends is guaranteed! On site, you can also try to balance on a stand up paddle. You want more? Then let's go for a parachute jump from the Glisy airfield. This is the only time during your stay that Notre-Dame will seem small!

The Bay of the Somme, the ultimate nature destination

If you are looking for even more nature and preserved spaces, take the road and you will arrive in only one hour in the sublime bay of Somme. A must-see destination for all nature lovers, this famous bay has been awarded the Grand Site de France label. Located along the Picardy coastline, in the Hauts-de-France region, its landscape is made up of a succession of long sandy beaches like those of Quend or Fort-Mahon. A favourite region for hikers, it has many paths along its coastline which are pleasant to walk or cycle along. In all seasons, the Bay of the Somme offers an unparalleled natural spectacle where various migratory birds live, especially in the Marquenterre Park. Quintessence of the natural beauties of the bay of the Somme, the park of Marquenterre extends over 220 ha. If the flora is majestic, particularly in spring when the dunes are adorned with ephemeral onagers, one comes to the Marquenterre Park to admire the migratory birds. With the help of specialist guides, visitors can follow three itineraries to discover this unique birdlife. It is strongly advised to rent a pair of binoculars to admire the show!
On sunny days, if you feel like going for a swim after your visit to the Park, go to Quend, a huge beach that is not very popular. The 15 km long sandy beach is so wide that you can put your towel down wherever you like. Quend-Plage offers a wide range of activities: for example, it is the ideal place to discover sand yachting or horseback riding on the Henson, the typical horse of the Bay of the Somme. The fishermen will be delighted to collect mussels. Not far from there, the beach of Fort-Mahon stretches between the Bay of the Somme and the Bay of the Authie, in a preserved natural setting where a wide range of leisure activities are available to bathers. Sand yachting, sliding on the sand dunes, horse riding or kitesurfing, everything is available to spend an excellent stay. Fort-Mahon-Plage is, therefore, very busy during the high season, but is still very pleasant thanks to its wide open spaces which allow you to get away from the crowds.
A 15-minute drive from the Parc du Marquenterre, don't miss a visit to Le Crotoy, which used to be one of the most important fishing harbours in the Manche. Today, the town is known for its luxurious holiday villas and its long sandy beaches facing south. Its landscape changes with the tide, revealing a long sandbank leading to the sea when the tide is low. The beaches of Le Crotoy are the ideal place to practice kitesurfing, while remaining vigilant because of the current. It is also one of the best spots to see the sunset in the bay of the Somme.
But who says bay of the Somme says of course seals! Between Le Crotoy and Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme, the Hourdel point is one of the best places to observe the colony of seals in the Somme bay. Of course, it is advisable to bring binoculars so as not to get too close to the animals at the risk of frightening them. Several guides or associations offer visits on foot, by canoe or kayak to spot and admire these mammals in complete safety.
About a 30-minute drive from Le Crotoy, you arrive in Cayeux-sur-Mer, which owes its name to its enormous pebbles or cayeux in Picardy. Its long beach of 14 km is not covered with sand, but with stones coming from the cliffs in the surroundings then polished and deposited by the sea. The path of the boards is to be seen: 2 km long, it is lined with some 400 beach huts. It is one of the most characteristic images of the city. From Cayeux-sur-Mer, you can also easily reach the Hourdel point, one of the best places in the Somme Bay to observe seals.
Further south, in about 20 minutes, you can drive along the seafront of Mers-les-Bains, which has more than 500 colourful villas dating from the Belle Époque. These elegant buildings, built during the explosion of seaside tourism, are the charming asset of the town. They form a unique landscape stretching over almost 1 km facing the sea. It is necessary to take time to admire each facade, in particular the beautiful balconies and their so particular roofs. A real gem, Mers-les-Bains is set in high cliffs offering an enchanting setting.
Finally, on the border of the Pays de Caux, and 15 minutes from Mers-les-Bains, the village of Ault benefits from a unique natural setting, framed by the highest chalk cliffs in Europe, some of which are 102 m high. These colossuses stand up to the sea which comes to challenge them at every moment, eroding them over time. The spectacle is unmissable during a stay in the Bay of the Somme. In the hollow of one of these cliffs, you must also see the Bois de Cise, its green nature and its Belle Époque villas. The view of the Channel coast, often praised by Victor Hugo, is splendid.