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Picardie

Pictured Above: The Chalk Cliffs of Ault

The first région and historical beginning of France, the Franks (ancestors of the French) first settled Northern France’s Picardie between the Marne and the Somme. There are astounding sites to behold in Amiens, such as its beautiful cathedral, which was listed as a UNESCO world heritage site, its belfry, Jules Vernes’ house, and its floating gardens or “les hortillonnages,” which can only be reached by boat. Soissons, located in Aisne, is one of the most ancient towns of France and is home to Espace Pierres Folles, which contains a museum, geological trail, and botanical garden. Other notable places to visit include the National Tapestry Gallery in Beauvais, The Pierrefonds castle, situated only 9 miles from Compiegne, the Somme Battlefields, Chantilly Castle, and the Baie de Somme.

Highlights
Départements: Aisne, Oise, and Somme

Capital: Amiens

Good to Know:
-The south side of the Oise département lies in the metropolitan area of Paris.