Picardy (French:
Picardie) is a historic region in northern France that is now within
the departments of Aisne, Oise, Pas-de-Calais, and Somme. AMIENS was
the region's capital. On Picardy's fertile soils wheat, sugar beets,
and fodder crops are grown. Dairy and beef cattle are raised, and
intensive vegetable cultivation takes place on the heavily
fertilized, drained peat in the valley of the SOMME RIVER.
Occupied by the
Franks during the 5th century, Picardy was divided among six feudal
counts. It became a French province in 1477 and was the target of
numerous invasions from the Netherlands. During World War I it was
the scene of protracted trench warfare.
Timothy J. Rickard Bibliography:History
intro, 1997 Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia v9.0.1.,
Grolier Interactive Inc., Danbury, CT. Fodor's 99 France, Editor: Natasha
Lesser, Fodor's Travel Publications, New York.
