Amiens is the prefecture of the Somme department and the historical capital of Picardy. It is located 3.72 km from Rivery, 5.16 km from Cagny, and 6.03 km from Poulainville. In Gallo-Roman times, the city of Amiens was known as "Samarobriva". It held a strategic position in trade and played a significant role in the spread of Roman culture. The city is first mentioned in Julius Caesar's Commentaries on the Gallic War. Between the 3rd and 4th centuries, it became "Ambionorum" and further solidified its military importance as a garrison town.

In 1185, Amiens became united with the crown under Philip Augustus, serving as a crucial connection between the Île-de-France region and the county of Flanders. During the 12th century, Amiens emerged as one of the major centers of the textile industry. The trade of pastel dyes propelled the city's prosperity, earning it the moniker "the land of blue gold". The blue dye of Amiens contributed to the funding of the construction of the cathedral.

During the 19th century, Amiens capitalized on the industrial revolution and gained international recognition for the quality of its textile production. While retaining its medieval character, the city expanded and modernized. It endured significant hardships during both World Wars, suffering heavy damage. However, the cathedral and certain neighborhoods, such as Henriville and Saint-Leu, were spared.

In the 20th century, Amiens experienced robust economic and industrial development with the arrival of the railway. It became the 10th most populous city in France and transformed into a vibrant urban center. Explore the city's rich history with guided tours provided by your driver guide and be captivated by its charm.

In 2015, Amiens had a population of 132,874 inhabitants. This number decreased by 0.43% compared to the population in 2010. The highest population recorded was in 2006, with 136,105 inhabitants. Amiens is well-known for its youthful population. For the past five years, over 25% of the city's population has been under 20 years old. The percentage of people over 60 is also lower than the national average, with 16.9% compared to the national rate of 21.6% and the county rate of 21%.

Similar to national and departmental trends, the female population in Amiens exceeds the male population, with a rate of 52.9% compared to the national rate of 51.6%. The northern part of the city is currently designated as a priority security zone, and the number of national police has been increased to effectively combat daily insecurity and significant deterioration of security conditions.

Amiens boasts a significant number of educational institutions, including vocational high schools, general high schools, and higher education centers. In recent years, the city has become home to one of the largest student populations in France, with 27,600 students and 800 researchers in approximately 40 higher education institutions, 34 laboratories, and 10 units associated with the National Center for Scientific Research or the National Institute of Health and Medical Research.

Economically, Amiens is renowned as an important hub for the economy and industry in Picardy. It benefits from a large pool of manpower and is recognized as "the most attractive city in France" due to the diversity of companies established there. The city has also been designated as "the best-managed city in France" among the most populated major cities in the region, according to Challenges magazine. For business travelers, our transportation service mainly covers transfers from the airport to hotels.

Amiens is a highly recommended tourist destination in Picardy. Its proximity to the Baie de Somme attracts a large number of visitors each year. The Baie de Somme is a registered tourist attraction in the Club of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World and has been labeled a Grand Site of France. Amiens is also developing its "memory tourism" related to the sites of the Great War.

Among the most popular tourist attractions in Amiens are the Cathedral and the Belfry. The Notre Dame Cathedral is an architectural masterpiece of Gothic style and is the largest cathedral in the world by its internal volumes, with 200,000 m3. It dates back to the Middle Ages and features over 3,000 statues, gargoyles, and nearly intact original chimeras. The Amiens Belfry, built in 1244, is another notable monument constructed with white stones. It represents a blend of Gothic and Jesuit styles and stands on the central square of Place au Fil, near Les Halles and the Town Hall. Standing at a height of 52 meters, the Belfry rings every hour.

In addition to these landmarks, Amiens also attracts visitors with its zoological park, Samara Park, hortillonnages (floating gardens), Museum of Picardy, and the house of Jules Verne. Amiens is recognized as a "City of Art and History" and boasts numerous monuments. The city has 126 places and monuments listed in the general inventory of cultural heritage, with 53 monuments protected as historical monuments. It is also home to 263 objects classified as historical monuments and 122 others listed in the general inventory of cultural heritage.

To fully explore the city, opting for a car service is a great option as it allows you to enjoy every corner of Amiens.