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Picardy Holiday Cottages
These rental companies offer a good range of Picardy cottage properties, apartments and gites from around £250 p/w. We've included both general holiday agents as well as French vacation specialists. Special offers are available for selected properties - visit the sites for more information.
Cottages 4 You -
50 Picardy holiday cottages including both modern and traditional self catering properties in places like Oise, St Quentin and Abbeville. Pets are allowed for a few cottages and rates start at £300. Start days are usually on Saturdays.
Chez Nous - Around
15 Picardy cottages and self catering properties including studio apartments, fisherman's cottages, town houses and converted farmhouses. They can accommodate between 4 and 6 people with week-long breaks available from £275.
Holiday Lettings - A small collection of villas, apartments and half-timbered cottages in Picardie from £250 per week. All are well-appointed and situated close to the picturesque Picardy coast. Some of the holiday properties are able to accommodate up to 32 people.
Hoseasons - 10 Picardy self catering properties including a range of holiday villas with private and shared swimming pools. Their collection includes apartments, holiday houses and studio flats. 7 day breaks are between £270 and £680
Picardy
Picardy features one of the most unspoilt coastlines in the whole country.
Sandy beaches and golden dunes stretch for miles, while further inland, vast beech and oak forests dominate the landscape. Picardy is also a region steeped in history with a number of fine castles and chateux found dotted around the countryside.
One of the oldest provinces in France, Picardy provides many reminders of an eventful past. Small towns such as Gerberoy and Amiens are considered to be among the most beautiful in France and boast a fine selection of historical landmarks such as
Gothic Cathedrals and churches. The Somme Battle took place here and the whole region is punctuated by war memorials and old battlefields.
Picardy is also famous for its picturesque gardens and these can be found all over the province. The countryside can be accessed very successfully by car with quiet roads criss-crossing all over the region. These country lanes wind past the high-cliffs of the majestic coastline, through charming rural towns such as
Chantilly and around the vineyards in the south.
The 16th century castle
Chateau de Condé en Brie and the Domaine du Marquenterre nature reserve are among the region's most notable attractions and are a popular destination for holiday goers. If you're looking for a short break then Picardy may be for you. We've include more information about Picardy visitor attractions including admission prices and opening times.
Picardy visitor attractions
One of the oldest provinces in France, Picardie has a great deal to interest cottages holiday makers: picturesque villages, interesting archaeological sites, magnificent abbeys, chateaux and cathedrals. A large area with varied landscapes, it has a host of outdoor activities and sightseeing to enjoy.
Outdoor activities
Picardie is a paradise for keen golfers as it has some of the oldest and most exclusive courses in Europe. In the Baie de Somme area alone, there are three courses: the Golf d’Abbeyville, the Golf Belle Dune and the
Golf de Nampont Saint Martin. The whole region is wonderful walking country – along the coast, down country lanes, through forests, across farmlands and on the riverbank.
The
Champagne Vineyards in the Marne Valley have fantastic views and the area has 4,500km of inland waterways. Both river and sea fishing are popular. For details for sea fishing, contact L’Alphee Boats in Le Crotoy which provides boats which are fully equipped for 12-2. A guide will accompany the party. Chantilly is France’s horse capital with a famous race course and numerous stud-farms. Contact the Centre Equestre du Marais if you would like to go riding in the area. Canoeing and kayaking enthusiasts should contact Escapism Canoe- Kayak Club in Antrec or Guise Canoe Club in Guise.
Food and drink
Picardie’s cuisine is as varied and diverse as its geography but you can be certain that whatever ‘terroir’ (area) you find yourself in, the emphasis is on fresh, local produce. You can enjoy seafood, river fish, lamb, duck and game as well as fresh, locally grown vegetables. L’os a Moelle in the rue Flatters at Amiens is a lively bistro which serves local specialities and regional dishes, including lobster with asparagus.
At Arras, celebrate a special occasion by dining at the elegant
La Faisanderie – expensive but considered to be one of the best restaurants in the area. The
Bistro des Artes at Compiegne has a sophisticated menu – traditional French food – but it also caters for children and you can eat outside if you wish. At
Poix de Picardie, L’Auberge de la Forge serves some innovative chef-inspired dishes as well as traditional fare.
History and Culture
Picardy is rich in historical sites and has a host of magnificent cathedrals, abbeys and chateaux worth visiting.
William the Conquerer sailed from Picardy to conquer England in 1066 and Henry VIII met Francois 1st of France on the Field of the Cloth of Gold near Calais in 1520. Joan of Arc was captured at Compiegne in 1430 and the town is famous for its royal chateau designed for Louis XVth
Amiens Cathedral, the largest in France, was built to house the head of John the Baptist which was brought back from the Crusades and is still on display.
