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Motorhoming in Somme
Somme is the coastal department of Picardie and its 70kms of coast is home to the Bay of Somme, the biggest bay in France spreading over 5kms which open up into the Channel. This is an area of particular interest to nature lovers who can observe the flora and fauna of the bay which includes a colony of sea lions. Best appreciated and more importantly appreciated in safety with the help of a guide or by taking a trip on the steam train which takes you on a 15km coastal tour of the bay and the surrounding area. Crotoy is the sea side town which exploits its geographical situation at the heart of the Bay of Somme. Its south facing beach and little fishing port make this an ideal resort for all the family while you motorhome travel in France and the more active members can also take part in activities such as sail-karting or water ski-ing. Jules Verne had a house in Crotoy and Joan of Arc was imprisoned there by the English before being taken to Rouen where she was burnt at the stake.
Amiens is the capital of Picardie and is a charming and welcoming town which has preserved much of its glorious past whilst not forgetting to keep up with the pace of modern life. La Place Gambetta is the ideal place to stop for a coffee, from where you can admire the Cathedral of Notre Dame d’Amiens, the construction of which began in 1220. The wealth of the town and the desire of its merchants and bourgeois for a fitting edifice led to the rapid construction of this masterpiece which is classed by UNESCO. From here you can also see what remains of the rich merchant’s houses of the 16th century which survived the bombings of 1940 when so many other things were destroyed.
While travelling around you can use the Aires de Service in Somme which are often free, to take a rest or make an overnight stop. Ideal if you’re on the trail of the châteaux of Somme. If you’re hiring a motorhome in England or hiring a motorhome in France it is the ideal way to tour the French countryside where you can discover these splendid buildings. The Château of Rambures is an excellent example of 15th century military architecture and is unusually built in red brick. It played an important role in the Hundred Year War against the English and its round towers and turrets were built as a means of exposing the least surface area possible to attack. In the 18th century it was transformed into a pleasant residence and an English Garden was created.
The Château of Bagatelle just south of Abbeville is an exceptional residence of a modest size but all the same splendid, ‘bagatelle’ meaning trinket. Damaged by a bomb in 1944 it has since been lovingly restored. Abbeville suffered terribly during the war and lost many of its treasures. Today, its remaining historical heritage has been conciliated with modern architecture and lots of green spaces creating a pleasant town which invites you to discover its remaining monuments and relics miraculously spared on that day of May 1944.
To appreciate more of Picardie go motorhoming in Oise or motorhoming in Aisne or change region and go motorhoming in Haute Normandie.
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