Historically, France was born here when Clovis made Soissons the
first capital of the Franks, in 486, and later Hugues Capet,
elected king of France at Senlis, was crowned at Noyon in 987.
This proud past made Picardy the first French region, not only
for historical buildings and monuments but, also, the premier
region for its Gothic cathedrals. Amiens has been specially
honoured, by UNESCO, for its architectural heritage.
From an area 30 kms North of Paris, close to the Roissy Charles
de Gaulle airport, the southerm boundaries stretch eastwards
towards Champagne and the Belgian border. Westwards, it extends
to the English Channel. This ancient and hospitable region will
not disappoint the visitor, with its choice of 4,000 hectares of
lakeland, 1,200 kms of rivers, 70 kms of dunes, cliffs and
luminous beaches, coastal marshes, forests and the bays at the
river mouths of the Somme and the Authie.
Regional Portrait
Regional tourism board
Department tourism board
