Pozieres
 

Hello Everyone

I need some advice from you good people. My husband and I are beginning to plan our European trip for 2016. Pozieres is a must as we have a fallen family member in the cemetery there. We know exactly where he is buried, we know everything about him, so my husband wants to go there, I do too. Our problem is trying to decide how to go about it.

This is what we were thinking:

We arrive in Amies by train from Paris - stay two nights in the area and visit the cemetery where our family member is resting. We visit other attractions and places of interest and just simply absorb the French Country Life.

Questions:

1. Is there public transportation apart from train?
2. Is it better to hire a car?
3. Should we hire the car before we leave Brissy or Should we do that on the day of arrival in Amies?
4. What is the traffic like?
5. Will there be any poppy flowers in the area in July?
6. Most important question is what is the train system like in France, especially in Paris? Are they easy to follow?


Thanking you in advance for taking the time to reply.

Your post is not very clear. What does Brissy have to do with Amiens and Pozières? At any rate, it's in the countryside, so you probably will need a car.

I guess you mean hire before you leave Brisbane which I guess most people reading this would not know that Brissy is Brisbane.
We are going to Amiens by train and we are not hiring a car. we will either use taxi or a local train to VillersBretonneux. If you look at a map of Pozieres it will show whether you need a car or not. There are lots of tour guides around the area if you do not want to drive.
Cant help re car hire.

Try to get the spelling correct. By Amies, do you really mean Amiens????

Most people have never heard of Brissy.

Be a little more "generic" about which region in France you are inquiring about.

We stayed in Compiegne for 4 nights a few year ago and took a few day trips into the area around the Somme. On the same trip, we stayed in a gite near Montreuil for a week and explored the region.

We rented a car to get to all the sites in the area - which there are many. However, the region doesn't get a lot of "discussion" here on Fodors.

To answer your questions.
1. Trains accesses this area - but if you want to get to most of the places you've mentioned - rent a car.
2. Yep
3. check www.kemwel.com to determine where you can rent cars. Certainly in Amiens - but we rented our car at CDG
4. little traffic - which is what we liked about the area. Although I got a speeding ticket there.
5. We were there in July & didn't see any poppies
6. The train system from Paris to elsewhere is fantastic. "In" Paris, we take buses because you can see the areas you are traveling through. Many people take the underground metro, however.

Stu Dudley

there is a train from Amiens to Albert and than a taxi to Pozieres-if you don't want to do a day tour a car sounds better for your visit.

<i>Brissy is Brisbane.</i>

There happens to be a Brissy near Amiens, although closer to Saint-Quentin.

While waiting for more specifics/clarification on the location...

Train service is excellent in France, though it doesn't necessarily service the smallest towns--those usually have bus service and the bus station (gare routiere) is usually located a block or two from the train station in a town.

I would consider training from Paris to the closest city (Amiens?)and picking up my car from that point on. Driving in France is very straightforward and I believe having the freedom to see the area around the cemetery would be a plus; you could even make a small foray into Normandy or the coast if you are inclined to do so.

Should you decide to rent a car, most definitely hire from home before you leave; it is much less expensive that way. Train tickets at a reduced price "Prems" online can be purchased 90 days out from your travel on the voyagesSNCF website.

As an Aussie [ and a Queenslander ] I think Brissy probably means Brisbane. Yes, I think you need a car. And you need to organise it before you go. Your plans at this time [ two nights in Amiens ] only give you a day in the area. To get the most out of a very short stay, a car will give you most flexibility. I presume you mean your relative is buried at the war cemetery at Villers - Brettonneux ?? You could also visit Pozieres, the memorial at nearby Mouquet Farm [ a major battle ], the memorial and museum at V-B , the Australian memorial at Le Hamel. That is a full day.

As for traffic. We found this a fairly quiet area. Are you hiring a car anywhere else in France ?? Because you will be driving ' on the other side of the road '. We have had several trips to France with a car, so now not a big issue for us. But the first time can be stressful until you adjust. The most challenging part will be getting out of Amiens, but a GPS will assist with this.

We spent a week in this region in 2012 and it was a sobering experience to see all the war cemeteries and memorials. You have a family connection which will make it more significant for you. A car will allow you the time to spend at the sites that are important for you.

Bon voyage.

Thank You everyone who wrote in. I do apologize about "Brissy" thing.

Brissy is short for BRISBANE AUSTRALIA.

Rhon
Yes this is the first time we will be hiring a car and driving it in France. I thought that may be the best place to get used to driving on the other side of the road. One Question Rhon - how long did it take you to adjust?

Thank You once again to all who replied. Very much appreciated

I am currently watching the memorial : Beyond the Anzac Legend with Neil Oliver . He is following a war diary and is currently at Pozieres . History Channel - hope you can. Catch it.

Well, I am lucky as my husband does the driving. We were quite nervous the first time [ in 2006 ] and spent ages in the car park of the Tours airport as my husband became familiar with the car. I would say after the first day, he was right. You are in the flow of traffic and just go with it. He says leaving car parks, eg a supermarket , is when he has to think sometimes. Roundabouts [ and there are plenty in France ] also at first are scary because , of course, you are going in the opposite direction. And turning left there is like turning right as you are crossing a lane of traffic.

If you are going to have a car for any length of time, fuel is usually cheaper at supermarket service stations. These will often close for a couple of hours over lunch on weekdays and not be open at all on Sundays. Fuel is available at these times with credit card, but there is no guarantee a foreign card will work where there is not the ability to sign i.e. when there is no attendant. Fuel will always be available on autoroutes.

We have had several holidays in France now and really enjoy driving around the countryside. We found this region quiet. Hope you have a lovely trip. We were in France earlier this year and had another great time.

Is it hot enough for you ?? We are in Toowoomba and it is so dry.

Since this is likely to be a once-in-a-lifetime trip for you, I would suggest that you stay in this part of France a little longer so that you can see more of the First World War sites. While I can understand wanting to visit the cemetery where your relation is buried, you should not miss Ypres and the Menin Gate, Vimy Ridge, the Thiepval Memorial, the Lochnagar Crater and so many other places. Also, you will continually pass cemeteries and memorials by the side of the road, and will want to stop just to have a wander round and learn different aspects of the war.

To do that, I certainly think you need to hire a car and drive yourself. It really isn't difficult, and you soon get used to sitting on a different side and using the other side of the road.

Every part of France is different, and each has its attractions. The architecture in this area is quite distinctive, and so is the cuisine and the beer. It used to be quite industrial, with coal mines, factories and canals. The coast between Boulogne and Calais is very attractive, with small seaside resorts, while you may also want to visit Etaples, Etretat and other seaside places further to the south.

Hello rhon

Goodness it is so hot....I spent the afternoon in out bedroom with the aircon on...ekkk

Thanks again for that info. I am wondering now if we should stay little longer than just two days. Will chat to hubby and see what he says.

Your tips are wonderful about driving around France....

Hello Chartley

Now it is absolutely definite. Hubby and I will stay longer and do the things you suggested. Thank you so much for your valuable advice. Reading your comment makes me want to go tomorrow. You can tell we are new to travel and having a forum like this to ask questions from fellow travelors is wonderful

Northie

I will look it up to see if there is a repeat...thank you for writing to me.
xoxo

We have just had a small storm which is most welcome.

If you click on my name, you will see my two trip reports. The one from 2012 includes the week we spent in this region if you want to see what we did. You will have to skim through as it is towards the end of our trip.

Where else will you be visiting?

Good luck with your planning.

Howdy rhon

Well we will be doing a 25 day tour of Britain and Ireland in depth. Poziers Region, Germany Highlights tour, Vienna, Zagreb, Dakovo, Vukovar (Croatia), Split, Dubrovnik, Italy....

Croatia is easy as I am from that part of the world and still have relatives living there. My hubby loves the fact that he has his very own personal guide and translator for Croatia.

We were thinking of flying to and fro, but now I am beginning to gain confidence with train travel, I just may want to travel in-between these cities by train.

Yep it went through here in Brisbane (hubby works for Enegex and he was on call last night didn't get home till the wee hours of the morning).

I will go and check out your post
ta
sue

forgot Paris how could I forget Paris eeek

Sounds like a great trip. A pity you do not have more time in France but you should have a lovely time.

Bon voyage.