Domaine de l'Authie

If you have your bike with you, the Véloroute De La Mémoire is a great way to explore this historic region. The nearest spot to access this 56-mile route, which links Amiens to Arras, is the town of Albert (half an hour’s drive). While cycling, you’ll go past important WWI sites like the Australian National Memorial and the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme. On the banks of the Somme, Amiens (40 minutes) is known for its ‘hortillonnages’, waterside gardens that can be toured by boat. The 13th-century Cathédrale Notre-Dame is thought to be twice the size of its namesake in Paris, and the leafy Parc de la Hotoie is home to a compact zoo with giraffes, red pandas and flamingos. For a day at the seaside, head to the Bay of the Somme (one hour and 10 minutes), with sandy beaches like Saint-Valery-sur-Somme. The Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme is a heritage railway track linking Le Crotoy to Cayeux-sur-Mer and travelling past marshes and beach huts, while Pointe du Hourdel is home to a seal colony.