SOMME


Memorial (to the missing) and museum at Thiepval. What makes these sites so special,


aside from their aesthetic perfection and respectful homage, is that young volunteers from Canada and the UK, respectively, are on hand to recount tales of the brave young men who were lost. Today’s generation of volunteers


are a credit to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, whose dedicated team maintains the memorials so beautifully. Another obligatory stop is the


astonishing collection of photos, discovered in an atic in 2010, of off-duty Allied soldiers taken by local couple and keen amateur


Eat and sleep...


From top: The Tour Perret, which was completed in 1952, is a real eye-catcher; the Underground City of Naours is a network of hand-dug caves


when 27 tonnes of explosives were detonated by the British on July 1, 1916, aſter tunnelling under German lines. It is a stark example of the Somme Offensive’s brutality and subsequent land scarification. Follow the road along the Circuit


du Souvenir (Remembrance Trail, symbolised by poppies on road signs) to Albert – ideal for a lunch stop – to the very interesting and passionately curated Somme 1916 Museum. Here, you will be led along a


250m tunnel that depicts life in the trenches, with a collection of fascinating artefacts. Two Commonwealth war


memorials nearby that demand your atention are the Newfoundland Memorial at Beaumont-Hamel, which commemorates the Newfoundland Regiment’s sacrifices (86 per cent casualty rate), and the 45m tall British


photographers, Louis and Antoinete Thuillier, in the village of Vignacourt. Finally, go name-spoting at the


remarkable Underground City of Naours, a network of hand-dug caves in a limestone plateau that served as a refuge for locals and livestock for centuries. During the Great War, many off-


duty troops from Australia, Britain and elsewhere visited and etched their names and regiments into the walls for posterity. Sadly, ongoing research shows


that many were killed soon aſter. A guided tour will reveal inspiring yet tragic tales.  www.visit-somme.com


As far as prime hotel locations go, Hôtel Le Prieuré in central Amiens is hard to beat


WHERE TO STAY IN SOMME In the heart of Amiens, the excellent Hôtel Le Prieuré sits right next to the cathedral and is a short walk from the Saint-Leu district. www.hotel-prieure-amiens.com


WHERE TO EAT IN SOMME In the heart of Albert, Hôtel de la Basilique has a great-value menu (from €18) and a tasty array of dishes on its lunch formule.


12


www.hotelbasiliquesomme.fr In Amiens, Big Ben is a fabulous modern eatery next to the cathedral, with menus changing weekly and relaxed, friendly service. www.restaurant-bigben.fr In the bustling Saint-Leu district


packed with bars and eateries, Le Quai offers an excellent and varied selection of local dishes and French classics with a modern twist. restaurant-lequai.fr


IMAGES © SOMME TOURISME; F. LEONARDI


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17