France Picardy

Amiens is a city and commune in northern France. Amiens Cathedral, the tallest of the large, classic, Gothic churches of the 13th century and the largest in France of its kind, is a World Heritage Site. The author Jules Verne lived in Amiens from 1871 until his death in 1905. During December, the town hosts the largest Christmas market in northern France. Amiens is known for a few local foods, including "macarons d'Amiens", almond paste biscuits; "tuiles amienoises", chocolate and orange curved biscuits; "pate de canard d'Amiens", duck pate in pastry; "la ficelle Picarde", an oven-baked cheese-topped crepe; and "flamiche aux poireaux", a puff pastry tart made with leeks and cream.

Senlis is a commune in northern France. It has a long and rich heritage, having traversed centuries of history. This medieval town has welcomed some of the most renowned figures in French history, including Hugh Capet, Louis IX, the Marshall of France, Anne of Kiev and Seraphine de Senlis. The monarchs of the early French dynasties lived here, attracted by the proximity of the Chantilly forest. It is renowned for the Gothic Senlis Cathedral and its vast historical monuments. The Senlis Cathedral is a Roman Catholic Gothic church and a French national monument.

Laon is the capital city of the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France. The city contains numerous medieval buildings, including the cathedral Notre-Dame of Laon, dating mostly from the 12th and 13th centuries. The chapter-house and the cloister contain specimens of early 13th century architecture. The old episcopal palace, contiguous to the cathedral, is now used as a court-house. There is also a Gothic cloister and an old chapel of two storeys, of a date anterior to the cathedral. The church of St Martin dates from the middle of the 12th century. The museum of Laon had collections of sculpture and painting. In its garden there is a chapel of the Templars belonging to the 12th century.

Chantilly is a commune in the Picardy region of northern France. Surrounded by Chantilly Forest, the town of 11,000 inhabitants falls within the metropolitan area of Paris. Chantilly is known for its horse racing track, the Chantilly Racecourse, where prestigious races are held for the prix du Jockey Club and the prix de Diane. Chantilly is also home to the Living Museum of the Horse, with stables built by the Princes of Conde. It is considered one of the more important tourist destinations in the Paris area.

Compiegne is a commune in the Oise department in northern France. It is located on the Oise River. The town is home to Château de Compiègne, a castle with museums of the Second French Empire and of motoring and tourism within its walls. Compiegne is home to the famous University of Technology of Compiegne (UTC), one of the top ranking engineering school in France.

Beauvais is a city in the northern French region of Picardy. The city's cathedral, dedicated to Saint Peter (Cathedrale Saint-Pierre de Beauvais), in some respects the most daring achievement of Gothic architecture, consists only of a transept and quire with apse and seven apse-chapels. The episcopal palace, now housing the Musee departemental de l'Oise, was built in the 16th century, partly upon the Gallo-Roman fortifications. The church of Saint-Etienne is a Romanesque-Gothic building (early 12th-late 16th centuries), including, in one of its transept's portals, a sculpture of "Wheel of Life".

Chateau-Thierry is a commune in northern France, situated on the Marne River. Chateau-Thierry is the birthplace of Jean de La Fontaine and was the location of the First Battle of the Marne and Second Battle of the Marne. Main sights include : Castle walls; Saint-Crepin church (15th century); Balhan tower; World War I Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and Memorial (south of the village of Belleau); Chateau-Thierry American Monument (overlooking the town); Champagne vineyards and more.