Somme brings together very different travel interests: the Baie de Somme’s protected areas and varied landscape make it a destination for nature, while Amiens offers Gothic architecture, gardens and literary history. When looking for accommodation, you can start by considering which of these discoveries you want to shape your stay.

Baie de Somme: Landscape and Birdlife

The Baie de Somme National Nature Reserve is of national importance for breeding and wintering waterbirds. Seals are also among the bay’s characteristic animals: it is home to France’s largest seal population. The annual cycle of the birds offers a practical guide for planning your trip, as breeding and wintering seasons draw attention to different phases of the natural year.

The landscape ranges from low-lying fields to cliffs, dunes and shingle ridges. Within the protected area, dunes, salt marshes and grassland are among the important habitats. This diversity shows why the Baie de Somme cannot be reduced to a single type of landscape. Those who want to focus on nature experiences will also find discovery trails, information boards and observation posts at Parc du Marquenterre; nature guides are part of the visitor offering, too. There are therefore different ways to learn about nature, from exploring the trails independently to taking part in activities led by experts.

Amiens: Gothic Architecture, Waterways and Jules Verne

Amiens Cathedral is one of France’s largest churches and one of the best-preserved Gothic churches of the 13th century. It was built mainly between 1220 and 1288 and is recognised by UNESCO as a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. Its long construction period and art-historical significance give a visit a clear focus: the architecture itself takes centre stage.

The Saint-Leu district offers a different cityscape, with canals, small bridges and colourful houses. The district’s history includes medieval watermills. The Hortillonnages add another perspective on Amiens, with a landscape of canals, stretches of water and varied gardens covering 265 hectares. From central Amiens, more than three kilometres of towpath with information boards lead to the Hortillonnages. The route and the garden landscape each offer a different focus: one follows the water, while the other takes in a mosaic of gardens and waterways.

Amiens also has a literary history: the Maison de Jules Verne is open to the public. Jules Verne lived there as a tenant from 1882 to 1900. Those interested in his life can place their visit in a specific historical setting, rather than encountering the literary history only through a book or story.

Choose Routes and Transport with Care

For an active trip, the route details can help you choose the right plan. The Circuit de la Canardière is an eleven-kilometre walking route between Amiens and Longueau. The Véloroute Vallée de Somme, by contrast, is a 160-kilometre cycling route from Ham to Saint-Valery-sur-Somme that mostly follows the river. The type of activity, distance and endpoints differ considerably, so the two routes are not interchangeable versions of the same trip.

The Baie de Somme also has 77 kilometres of cycling infrastructure and nine discovery loops. There is also a steam railway with four stations, as well as SNCF connections in Noyelles-sur-Mer and Rue. This gives you different options for planning, without requiring a single route to link them all. If you plan to take a train or the steam railway, check the relevant timetable before your visit.

Cultural History and Regional Cuisine

In Péronne, the Historial de la Grande Guerre explores the First World War from cultural, social and military perspectives. The museum therefore makes for a distinct cultural-history focus, different from Amiens’ architectural history. When choosing a hotel, you can use these different interests as a starting point: nature and wildlife, urban history or a visit to the Historial each point you in a different direction.

The local cuisine also offers specific regional highlights. Specialities include salicorne, Gâteau battu, Pâté de canard d’Amiens and baked leek tart; what is served and how recipes are prepared may vary. Ficelle picarde originated in Amiens in the 1950s: chef Marcel Lefèvre created it at the Hotoie exhibition fair. This dish thus links regional cuisine to a particular city and its culinary history. For a short getaway, you can choose a personal focus without combining nature, culture and food into one single itinerary.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Cahon Gouy, Contre, Épagne-Épagnette, Ergnies, Estrées-Lès-Crécy, Fort-Mahon-Plage, Franleu, Fressenneville, Grand-Laviers, Jumel, Lignières-En-Vimeu, Machy, Méneslies, Mesnil-Domqueur, Miannay, Moyenneville, Ochancourt, Port-Le-Grand, Vironchaux, Vismes, Outrebois, Bouvaincourt-Sur-Bresle, Nampont, Saint-Valery-Sur-Somme, Aigneville, Petit Port, Quesnoy-Le-Montant, Vron, Cayeux-Sur-Mer, Fontaine-Sur-Somme, Forest-L'abbaye, Oust-Marest, Abbeville, Noyelles-Sur-Mer, Boubert, Saigneville, Vaux-Marquenneville, Poix, Péronne, Mers-Les-Bains, Longueau, Le Crotoy, Glisy, Boves, Bailleul, Assevillers, Amiens, Albert, Quend, Sailly-Flibeaucourt, Arquèves, Saint-Riquier, Roye, Dury, Fontaine-Sur-Maye, Neuvillette, Béhen, Cahon, Folleville, Creuse, Mareuil Caubert, Poulainville, Berny-En-Santerre, Ault, Breuil, Cerisy-Buleux, Tours-En-Vimeu, Villers-Bocage, Buigny-Saint-Maclou, Rue, Beaucamps-Le-Vieux, Vers-Sur-Selles, Camon, Beauchamps, Saint-Léger-Sur-Bresle, Huchenneville, Feuquières-En-Vimeu, Pont-Remy, Longpré-Les-Corps-Saints, Lanchéres, Crécy-En-Ponthieu, Woincourt, Gamaches, Favières, Nesle, Beauval, Woignarue, Belloy-Sur-Somme, Gapennes, Forest-Montiers, Yaucourt-Bussus, Montigny-Sur-L'hallue, Argoules, Villers-Sur-Authie, Saint-Blimont, Friville-Escarbotin, Eaucourt-Sur-Somme, Canchy, Nouvion, Flesselles, Vadencourt, Ailly-Le-Haut-Clocher, Rancourt, Camps-En-Amiénois, Sourdon, Saint-Quentin-En-Tourmont, Chépy, Neufmoulin, Tœufles, Boismont, Yzengremer, Gueudecourt, Buire-Courcelles, Omiécourt, Pendé, Arrest, Estrébœuf, Mouflières, Béthencourt-Sur-Mer, Aumâtre, Beaumetz, Gueschart, Roisel, Regnière-Écluse, Mailly-Maillet, Suzanne, Cappy, L'étoile, Ailly-Sur-Noye, Épaumesnil, Béalcourt, Lucheux, Hangest-En-Santerre, Domvast, Tilloloy, Fossemanant, Domléger-Longvillers, Bouzincourt, Carnoy, Moislains, La Faloise, Vauchelles-Lès-Domart, Acheux-En-Vimeu, Airaines, Frettecuisse, Velennes, Saint-Léger-Lès-Authie, Courcelles-Au-Bois, Ailly-sur-Somme, Doullens, Conty, Cocquerel, Bresle, Cramont, Plachy-Buyon, Drucat, Laleu, Sentelie, Frise, Bray-sur-Somme, Villers-sous-Ailly, Méaulte, Doingt, Valines, Fransu, Ponches-Estruval, Longavesnes, Rouy-le-Petit, Bernes, Naours, Longueval, Hem-Hardinval, Baizieux, Aveluy, Treux, Boufflers, Bourseville, Beauquesne, Boussicourt, Bray-lès-Mareuil, Sains-en-Amiénois, Corbie, Nibas, Esclainvillers, Villers-Bretonneux, Bernay-en-Ponthieu

For the broader travel overview: Picardy.