Picardie

  Picardy is one of the 27 regions of France. It is located in the northern part of France. The historical province of Picardy stretched from north of Noyon to Calais, via the whole of the Somme department and the north of the Aisne department. The province of Artois (Arras area) separated Picardy from French Flanders.

Today, the modern region of Picardy no longer includes the coastline from Berck to Calais, via Boulogne (Boulonais), that is now in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region, but does incorporate the pays of Beauvaisis, Valois, Noyonnais, Laonnois, Soissonnais, Omois, to name only the most prominent) in the south of the Aisne department and Oise department.

The Picard cultural heritage includes some of the most extraordinary Gothic churches, distinctive local cuisine (including ficelle picarde, flamiche aux poireaux, tarte au maroilles), beer and traditional games and sports, such as the longue paume (ancestor of tennis), as well as danses picardes and its own bagpipes, called the pipasso.