Top 15 Attractions in Picardy, France

Located in an agricultural area north of Paris, Picardy boasts stunning cathedrals and châteaux that have provided the backdrop for numerous films and television series.

Parc Astérix, a major attraction in the region, offers visitors the opportunity to engage in the adventures of this iconic illustrated character and his companions.

Significantly, Picardy was the site of the Somme Offensive, one of the most catastrophic battles of World War I, and it features various museums and memorials that vividly remind us of the harsh realities of this conflict.

On a more positive note, Picardy is home to 72 public parks and gardens, along with several of France’s most visually appealing villages.

Here are the top attractions in Picardy:

1. Amiens Cathedral

This Gothic cathedral from the 13th century was completed within just 50 years, endowing the structure with a unique style coherence.

Its status as a World Heritage site can be attributed to its architectural magnitude, as it features the largest interior of any medieval structure in Western Europe.

The roof is supported by 126 pillars, making it a remarkable experience to stand at either the north or south aisle and observe the series of vast yet delicate vaults.

The south transept portal and the west façade are adorned with exquisite sculptures depicting Christ in Majesty on the Day of Judgment as well as various saints pertinent to the Amiens region.

2. Parc Astérix, Plailly

The illustrated books by Goscinny and Uderzo have emerged as some of France’s most treasured cultural exports over the past fifty years, cherished by many generations.

This theme park allows children to recreate these adventures in reality, while many adults fondly reminisce about their own childhood experiences with these stories.

The park features attractions such as log flumes, roller coasters, entertainment shows, and amusements, all inspired by the settings and characters from the books.

For instance, the Menhir Express log flume, based on Obelix, and Ozlris, a contemporary steel roller coaster that draws inspiration from ancient Egypt depicted in Asterix and Cleopatra.

3. Château de Chantilly

The Château de Chantilly is a luxurious Renaissance-style structure that suffered damage during the revolution and was subsequently rebuilt with a reimagined design in the 1870s.

The estate encompasses beautifully arranged symmetrical gardens, an English-style garden, and regal 18th-century stables.

Notably, the estate houses the Musée Condé, an illustrious art museum featuring a collection established by the Duke of Aumal, the son of France’s last monarch, Louis Philippe I. This museum contains over a thousand works, predominantly from the Renaissance period, including masterpieces like Raphael’s Three Graces and Botticelli’s Autumn.

The library is equally impressive, housing medieval manuscripts of great value, such as the Ingeborg Psalter and a leaf from the Registrium Gregorii, dating back to the 10th century.

4. Château de Pierrefonds

The towers of Château de Pierrefonds dominate the Compiègne Forest, creating a scene reminiscent of chivalric tales and appearing in numerous television series and films, including the BBC’s Merlin and the adaptation of The Man in the Iron Mask starring Leonardo DiCaprio.

The current architectural layout dates back to the early 15th century, during the Hundred Years’ War.

However, after years of disrepair, Napoleon III commissioned a grand restoration in the 1800s, managed by Viollet-le-Duc at considerable expense.

The result of Viollet-le-Duc’s work is a magnificent, idealized representation of the 15th century, although the significant costs meant that the interior was not fully completed.

Families with young children will find enjoyment in the eerie crypt, which features special effects and replicated tombs of France’s most notable historical figures.

5. Musée Somme 1916, Albert

It is particularly poignant that this museum, dedicated to one of World War I’s most infamous battles, is situated ten meters underground.

The museum occupies a medieval tunnel, spanning 250 meters, and includes photographs, working models, renders, dioramas, weapons, and various artifacts from the battlefield.

By navigating through narrow trenches enhanced with light and sound effects, visitors can gain a brief insight into the experiences faced on the front line.

At the beginning of the tour, visitors can also view a 3D presentation that illustrates the broader context of the war and highlights local landmarks significant during the four-month battle in 1916.

6. Beauvais Cathedral

Viollet-le-Duc, the renowned 19th-century architect who was responsible for the restoration of Château de Pierrefonds and the walls at Carcassonne, referred to this cathedral as “the Parthenon of French Gothic architecture.” It was constructed during a time when towns competed to build record-breaking cathedrals, which contributed to its architectural challenges.

Beauvais boasts the tallest Gothic choir in the world, rising to 48.5 meters, but the enormous dimensions created structural issues, resulting in the nave and tower, which could have achieved remarkable heights, being left incomplete.

Inside, visitors can observe the trusses implemented to stabilize the structure.

Additionally, there is a functioning medieval clock from the 1300s, alongside a 19th-century astronomical clock that displays the time in various global cities, as well as the positions of the planets and times for sunrise and sunset.

7. Maison de Jules Verne, Amiens

Jules Verne settled in this elegant mansion located on rue Charles Dubois with his wife Honorine in 1882, during the peak of his literary success.

They resided there until 1900, and in 1980, the city acquired the property.

The museum was substantially enhanced in 2000 when it acquired the collection of Piero Gondolo della Riva, a Verne scholar and enthusiast who dedicated his life to gathering 30,000 manuscripts, first editions, posters, letters, and artifacts related to the author.

Visitors can explore Verne’s office, which retains his furnishings, and ascend to the attic, where a world map filled with his markings and a treasure trove of other items await literary fans.

8. Château de Compiègne

Beginning from the 14th century, Compiègne served as a summer retreat for French royalty, who frequented its vast forests for hunting.

Louis XIV visited the château 75 times, while his successor, Louis XV, had a particular fondness for the locale due to his passion for hunting.

This site also functioned as one of three governmental seats and later became an imperial domain during Napoleon’s reign.

As such, one can satisfy their curiosity about both the First and Second Empires while traversing the elaborately decorated halls and rooms.

Additionally, there is a transport museum displaying vehicles dating back to the 1700s; the highlight of the collection is La Jamais Contente, an electric car from 1899.

9. Laon Cathedral

The towers of this remarkable edifice dominate the surrounding landscape, just as they did when it was constructed in the 1200s.

The western façade invites a moment of reverence, reminiscent of Notre-Dame in Paris; above the central portal, one can admire one of the most exquisite rose windows of French Gothic architecture.

Approaching the towers reveals life-sized sculptures of oxen, which commemorate the animals that aided in transporting the stones uphill for the cathedral’s construction.

Inside, one can find a 12th-century font adorned with primitive carvings, along with a 12th-century icon of the Holy Face, painted in Serbia and gifted to the church by Pope Urban V.

10. Familistère de Guise, Aisne

This visionary workers’ community was conceived by the industrialist and social reformer Jean-Baptiste André Godin.

In alignment with his principles concerning workers’ rights, he developed a “social palace” between 1858 and 1883 for the employees at his stove-manufacturing factory.

The structure consists of three four-story blocks that enclose a courtyard beneath a metal-and-glass canopy.

This shared space was designated as a play area for children, while essential amenities such as a swimming pool, laundry facilities, school, and theater were conveniently located close to the living quarters.

The project thrived for decades, accommodating up to 1,748 residents at its peak in 1889.

11. Jardins de Valloires, Argoules

These gardens span eight hectares within the grounds of Valloires Abbey, located in the Somme department.

Although the abbey dates back to the 1700s, the gardens are a more recent addition, having been established in the early 1980s.

They are based on a collection curated by Jean-Louis Cousin, a botanist who amassed 3,000 plant specimens seeking a venue for display.

Currently, there are more than 5,000 plant varieties from 2,030 species, predominantly from Central and East Asia.

April is an enchanting time to visit, as the cherry blossoms create a stunning spectacle.

The collections are organized into French parterres, an English garden, and a less formal wild space.

During the summer months, guests can also tour the abbey to appreciate the sacristy’s oak paneling and the church’s ornate Baroque decor.

12. War Memorials, Somme

One of the many harrowing aspects of World War I, particularly during the Battle of the Somme, is the vast number of soldiers whose names remain unmarked and without graves.

The 72,246 British soldiers who went missing are commemorated at Thiepval, which stands as the largest monument for missing Commonwealth servicemen globally.

Nearby, Beaumont-Hamel pays tribute to 814 soldiers from the Dominion of Newfoundland who perished in the war.

This site features the most extensive preserved section of the Somme battlefield, characterized by a vast, cratered expanse interspersed with trenches.

A memorial marking the tragic first day of battle on July 1, 1916, is the Lochnagar Crater, created when a mine containing 2.7 tons of explosives was detonated to signal the beginning of the attack.

13. Mers-Les-Bains

During the summer months, this resort, flanked by chalk cliffs on two sides, offers an elegant environment for enjoying the sea breeze.

The beachfront is charming, featuring a lengthy row of tall Art Nouveau mansions, each with unique designs, adorned with timber frames and brightly-colored wooden balconies.

The beach’s pebbled terrain is delightful in warm weather when visitors can stroll along the promenade to feel the cool sea water on their feet.

14. Saint-Valery-sur-Somme

Situated at the confluence of the Somme and the Channel, this picturesque coastal village offers a wealth of attractions for a small place.

The harbor features the charming Courtgain quarter, lined with brightly colored fisherman’s cottages.

The elevated medieval section of the village remains intact within its original walls, with towers still on the main gate providing a grand welcome.

Visitors can seek out the vestiges of La Tour Harold, reputedly where Harold Godwinson was detained following his shipwreck at Ponthieu in 1065. Additionally, Saint-Valery serves as a stop on the Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme, a heritage steam railway that operates during the summer.

15. Gerberoy

This quaint village in the Oise department is extremely charming and has been recognized as one of the “most beautiful” in France.

The narrow lanes and alleys are lined with creaking, half-timbered buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Gerberoy is picturesque year-round but is particularly enchanting from spring until mid-July.

During this period, the roses that adorn the walls of the houses are in full bloom.

Henri Le Sidaner, an impressionist painter who fell in love with Gerberoy and relocated there around the turn of the 20th century, is credited for this vibrant, fragrant display. His initiative to plant roses in his garden and around the old fort inspired the rest of the village to embrace this floral tradition.