In Picardy, coastal landscapes and wildlife watching sit alongside Gothic architecture, museums and sites of remembrance. These different themes can help you choose the focus of your trip—from outdoor activities to history and regional cuisine.

Coast and landscapes of the Baie de Somme

The Côte picarde forms the maritime façade of Picardy and the Somme department, stretching for around 65 kilometres. The landscapes of the Côte picarde include the Plaine picarde, the Marquenterre and the Vimeu. The Baie de Somme is an estuary covering around 3,000 hectares. Its distinctive landscapes include the Mollières, where salt-meadow sheep graze. The Baie de Somme is designated a Grand Site de France and is a national nature reserve associated with exceptional biodiversity. It also encompasses nearly 11,180 hectares of protected natural areas.

Wildlife watching and outdoor activities

You can watch seals in the Baie de Somme from land, keeping at least 300 metres away, or from a boat. In the Parc du Marquenterre, observation trails and viewing posts offer views of dunes, forests and marshes. Alongside seal watching, the area features a range of landscapes and wildlife-watching spots.

Cyclists can explore 160 kilometres of discovery loops in the Baie de Somme, including 77 kilometres of cycling infrastructure. There are also around 65 circular hiking trails in the Baie and its hinterland. These figures describe different ways to get outdoors; they do not indicate walking times or difficulty levels. As route details can change over time, check the latest information before choosing a specific route.

Gothic architecture and sites of remembrance

Amiens Cathedral was built mainly between 1220 and 1288 and is considered a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. The Musée de Picardie in Amiens presents archaeology, sculpture, decorative arts and painting, spanning the period from the Paleolithic to the present day. The two sites offer different cultural points of interest: architecture and building history at one, and a broad chronological and artistic range at the other.

Saint-Valery-sur-Somme is considered a medieval maritime town, with a marina, fishermen’s houses, quays and Belle Époque villas. The Caverne du Dragon has a different historical focus: this underground quarry is connected to the First World War and the daily lives of soldiers from 1914 to 1918.

Regional specialities and seasonal visits

Specialities of the Baie de Somme include grey shrimp, salicornia, oreilles de cochon, ficelle picarde and gâteau battu. Salicornia is hand-harvested in the Baie between May and August and eaten raw or cooked. Gâteau battu is a speciality of the Somme, particularly associated with Abbeville.

At the Hortillonnages, guided boat visits last 45 minutes and run from 1 April to 31 October. Check the timetable before your trip. Seasonal offerings have different timeframes: boat visits run from April to October, while salicornia is hand-harvested from May to August.

Choose a focus for your accommodation search

When searching for accommodation in Picardy, start with your travel interests: are you most interested in wildlife watching, cycling and hiking routes, or culture and history? Then check seasonal and route information for your travel dates.

Discover more destinations: Aisne, Oise, Somme, Carlepont, Provence-Alpes-Côte D'azur, Corsica, Burgundy, Auvergne.

Go to the main travel overview: France.