Paris-Amiens for Somme tour

Old Sep 22nd, 2004, 05:18 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 1,249
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Paris-Amiens for Somme tour

Enquiring on behalf of a work colleague who is booked to do a tour of the Somme battlefields from Amiens in November. She arrives in Paris Gare-du-Nord via Eurostar from London. Other than hiring a car, what is best way of getting to Amiens and back?
twoflower is offline  
Old Sep 26th, 2004, 09:42 PM
  #2  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 1,249
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Somewhere I started another (reworded) thread on this topic, because this thread had attracted no answers. However, that thread has disappeared. I knew threads were prone to do that when new, but I had always been told that if I typed my screen name in the search panel all my threads would come up. I have now discovered this is not the case - despite typing "twoflower" in, the missing thread is still hidden!

But to add to my above, I have since heard that rail services go to Amiens from Paris Gare-de-Lyons. Is this true? It surprises me - because of Amiens direction I'd have expected Gare du Nord. Also I understand one can get to Amiens by train from Lille. As this traveller is coming from London on the Eurostar, that might be a better option.

Has anyone done these Somme tours? Any remarks on how good they are?
twoflower is offline  
Old Sep 26th, 2004, 09:45 PM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 596
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
twoflower -- I'm sorry, I can't help with your question. However, regarding your other problem -- if you click on your screen name (upper left-hand corner or in a message), all your previous posts will be listed.
jv827 is offline  
Old Sep 26th, 2004, 10:22 PM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,249
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The train from Amiens leaves from Paris-Nord, as you correctly surmise.

Have a look at www.sncf.com - and click on the English flag for the English language version.

Train times vary from just over an hour to about 1.75 hours. I didn't look at prices. Eurostar goes to Lille, so I had a look at connections from there. There appears to be a couple of options, which may or may not be quicker.

I can't say about the quality of tours, as we toured the area by car 3 years ago. The graves and memorials are very impressive. I did notice some very large tour groups going around the traps.

I guess you had little response to this question because very few Americans visit this area - mostly British, Canadians and Australians (and French and Germans, of course) were involved in this part of the war. The Canadian / Newfoundland memorial (can't remember where it was), was very moving.

I hope your colleague enjoys the place (I guess "have fun" is not an appropriate wish)
margo_oz is online now  
Old Sep 26th, 2004, 10:27 PM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,249
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
That should read : The train FOR Amiens"....

One of these days I'll take more water with it!
margo_oz is online now  
Old Sep 28th, 2004, 11:35 PM
  #6  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 1,249
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Margo Oz: Thanks for that. So much for Amiens' own publicity website - that's where (under "how to get here") I got the Gare-de-Lyons information. I'll check out the site you gave me.
twoflower is offline  
Old Sep 28th, 2004, 11:48 PM
  #7  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 1,249
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yes, I guess even for Australians and New Zealanders, it's all a bit remote and long-ago. I must say I wasn't much interested myself (but I've visited the more recent Normandy & Gallipoli landing sites) until I read a very vivid book set in the Somme - "Birdsong" by Sebastian Faulkes.

For anyone who is interested, the tour company my friend is looking at specialises in small group tours of 6 people. They also do a tour from Limoges based round the sites operated in by Violette Szabo the Anglo/French agent captured and killed by the Nazis, and played by Virginia McKenna in that excellent old movie "Carve Her Name With Pride." This tour also takes in Oradour-sur-Glane which I haven't been to but hope to visit on my way to the Dordogne next year.

twoflower is offline  
Old Oct 16th, 2005, 10:51 PM
  #8  
IGN
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Amiens is a lovely city and easy to get to from both Lille and Paris. From the Eurostar station at Lille you need to change stations (they're about a 5 mins. walk apart - easy) and catch a train to Amiens (often its the same train that goes to Rouen). The journey takes about an hour. From Paris its definitely via Gard du Nord - the trains are frequent (about every hour) and most take about an hour (the long train is the local commuting option and worth avoiding!). As for the WW1 sites I would recommend hiring a car for a couple of days - there's so much to see and really the only way to get around easily is in a car. While you're in the area can I recomment a great little place to stay called Le Macassar (small luxury private inn that we cant stop raving about!!)
IGN is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
JulieVikmanis
Europe
14
Nov 3rd, 2008 08:54 AM
etaner
United States
4
Oct 20th, 2007 04:09 PM
verocross
Europe
5
Jan 23rd, 2006 12:22 PM
westcanuck
Europe
15
Oct 12th, 2005 05:47 PM
Ellen
United States
6
Nov 3rd, 2002 05:12 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -