Picardy marks the historical beginning of France as its first region, evident to visitors through its many prehistoric sites, Gallo-Roman ruins, churches and castles.

Situated in northern France, the region's southern border is located 30 kms north of Paris, stretching to the English Channel in the west. 

The varied landscape contains 4,000 hectares of lakeland and 1,200 kms of rivers plus dunes, beaches, coastal marshes, forests and bays at the mouths of the Somme and Authie rivers. 

Known as the birthplace of Gothic architecture, Picardy is home to six Gothic cathedrals, the largest  is in the regions capital, Amiens.

Picardy is a land of peace and tranquility.  It has an unspoiled, beautiful and romantic shoreline alongside the English Channel, its forests and plateaus are restful and verdant, and the flow of its rivers and canals are virtually hypnotic and the inspiration of a treasure trove of French artists and writers. 

The ancient French province of Picardy was divided to make the two modern regions, Nord-Pas-de-Calais and Picardy.  Parts of Champagne and Île-de-France were added to Picardy.  

Amiens was the capital of old Picardy and it remains the capital of the modern Picardy.   The capital of the Picardy region, Amiens is situated on the Somme River.

Points of interest include the Quartier Saint-Leu, a pedestrianized area crossed by a network of flower-lined canals with waterside artisans’ shops, bars and restaurants; the colourful area of marshland gardens known as Les Hortillonages, which produces goods sold at the and the town’s main attraction, the Cathedrale Notre-Dame.