Research

Nièvre et Somme

HALF-WAY BETWEEN AMIENS AND THE BAY OF THE SOMME, THE VALLEYS OF NIÈVRE AND THE SOMME ARE THE PERFECT PLACE TO ESCAPE DAILY LIFE. DISCOVER SAMARA’S NATURE AND ARCHAEOLOGY PARK, HAVE FUN IN THE NORTH OF FRANCE’S ONLY WHITE WATER RAFTING SPOT, OR VISIT THE SOMME’S FAMILY-RUN CRAFT BREWERY.

Select the territory to discover its riches

Discover Samara’s nature and archaeology park

A major site of prehistoric France, Samara park was created in 1988 around historic remains, which were found when the Somme Valley was excavated. This 30-hectare nature park shows the archaeological work undertaken in the valley since the 19th century.

Samara - ADRT80 - Baie Attitude

A 1200 m2 pavilion, with surprising architecture, is home to two permanent exhibitions showing the evolution of human beings by exhibiting their environment and way of life: “Scenes from Prehistory” and “600,000 years of history in The Somme”. There’s a special activity area for traditional craftsmanship, with a true-to-life scale reconstruction of their housing. Here you can learn the ways of time gone by, such as cutting flint, pottery-turning, and even weaving fabric.

Samara Park is a great walk through time, where nature-lovers will also find happiness. With an arboretum containing 60 species of forest trees, a labyrinth of plants and a circuit around Samara’s wetland, the park protects a 100% natural area in the very heart of the Somme Valley.

Rafting in Picquigny will evoke strong emotions, with crazy games bound to make you happy !

Head out on a rafting session in Picquigny

Head to the Picquigny water sports centre to discover northern France’s only whitewater rafting spot! This team sport, where you use nothing more than a simple paddle to propel yourself, is perfect for adults looking for new experiences.

Only 15 minutes away from Amiens, get your friends or family together and head out with a professional helmsman who’ll help and guide you around in complete safety.

Rafting base nautique picquigny - Somme tourisme

You can play all sorts of games on the water of the Vieille Somme in Picquigny, such as “bumps”, “spinning tops” and “pancakes”! In groups of 8 (and a minimum of 4 adults), rafting sessions are an hour and a half of water-based joy and fun! This activity suits kids just as well as it does adults. You can also combine multiple activities for a nautical day, with a morning canoe or paddle trip followed by a lunchtime barbecue, before an after-lunch rafting session.

Visit the Somme Brewery

Lovers of local produce will be thrilled by a trip to this family-owned craft brewery located in Domart-en-Ponthieu. François and Marie-Laure took over the brewery from François’ ancestors in 2010, who moved here in the 19th century. Some of the farmhouse’s outbuildings have been converted into a studio for beer brewing, with a small shop where you can buy their produce on-site.

Bière Princesse des marais médaillée - Brasserie de la Somme

The couple grow the malt and some of the hops themselves, whilst the other ingredients are sourced by local producers, as far as is possible. Their range started with their famous amber beer, La Germinette. Since then, they’ve released over thirty different recipes such as La Cervoise, a hops-free drink of Gaulish origin developed with help from scientists from Samara Park, and even La Princesse des marais (the princess of the wetland), created with blackcurrants from Prieuré de Moreaucourt in Étoile.

Brasserie - Somme tourisme

Visits to the Somme Brewery are organised year-round at 5 pm every 1st Saturday of the month, and every day from July to August. If you’re passionate about beer brewing, this brewery is also open for beginner brewing courses on some dates. You’ll have the chance to taste a beer brewed by your own hands two months later on, in your own home !