Abbeville (Abbekerke in Dutch) is located in northern France on the Somme River, halfway from Calais to Paris. In the medieval period, it was the lowest crossing point on the Somme and it was nearby that Edward III's army crossed shortly before the Battle of Crécy in 1346, but resist to the invaders.

The city was very prosperous and beautiful until the early days of the Second World War when it was bombed and almost completely destroyed in one night by the German army.

The town was rebuilt after the second world war and is mostly modern nowadays. Several of the town's attractions remain, including a Flemish-style gare SNCF (Fench National Railway); the oldest bell tower (belfry) France and St. Vulfran's Gothic church, which was built in the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries and finished in 1993.

Another attraction is the eighteenth-century Chateau de Bagatelle, 2km south of town. When the chateau is closed you can sometimes visit the gardens, well known their elaborate topiaries and rare tree species of.

The tourist office is at 1 place de l'Amiral-Courbet (tel 03.22.24.27.92) and organizes guided visits to the church of St-Vulfran. If you're looking for a hotel to stay at, a comfortable option, with a nice restaurant, is the Hotel de France, in place du Pilori in the town centre (tel 03.22.24.00.42, fax 03.22.24.26.15). It is a beautiful red brick hotel in the heart of Abbeville and is a classic example of Ponthieu architecture. The airconditioned hotel offers 72 rooms including 3 for guests. In the hotel there is also a restaurant, a bar, meeting rooms and private pay car park. Hotel de France is a 3 star hotel and is a very good option for a business trip or a holiday in Abbeville with your partner or family. 

Hotel de France

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