The Somme area in northern France has an extended, wealthy historical past. Poignant memorial websites, historic capital Amiens with its nice Gothic cathedral, superb countryside, and La Baie de la Somme, one of many ‘Most Stunning Bays of the World, are just some good causes to go to. Add in a keep on the beautiful Le Macassar Chambre d’Hôtes, a historic B&B within the Somme and it’ll add an entire new stage of wow to your go to.
Le Macassar – a historic B&B within the Somme
Simply two hours north of Paris, Le Macassar fronts onto the principle sq. of the charming riverside city of Corbie. This bustling market city, with a number of eating places and bars, boasts over 1,500 years of historical past and the enduring Abbey St. Pierre nonetheless dominates the city.
And Le Macassar could possibly be thought of a historic website in its personal proper. Named after the ebony wooden that was in style within the Artwork Deco period, the Artwork Nouveau-Artwork Deco mansion is owned by Deborah and Gordon Murphy. Initially from Canada, the couple lived in Europe for a few years earlier than discovering the property. Their love of French historical past and structure has allowed them to create a heat dwelling inside a historic setting.
“This home has had a charmed life,” says Deborah. “A lot of the city of Corbie was badly broken throughout World Battle One, however by some miracle, this property was spared. We’re solely the fifth house owners within the final 150 years, and successive custodians have taken care to protect and keep the property. It has a very particular ambiance, and each room has a narrative behind it.”
Step into historical past at Le Macassar
What makes Le Macassar so distinctive and totally great are the preserved and artistically designed rooms which function a variety of architectural types, and that friends are welcome to get pleasure from. Step into the Ohannessian Room, a shocking parlour which encompasses a sixteen-panel ceramic set up by the famend Armenian ceramicist, David Ohannessian. It’s the kind of distinctive immersive expertise that you just wouldn’t discover in an strange lodge. It’s actually fairly astounding to search out the work of the artist whose most notable work is present in world-class museums together with the Rockefeller Museum in Jerusalem, however In 1925, Ohannessian attended the Artwork Deco exposition in Paris the place he met the house owners of the Le Macassar, and so they commissioned the attractive panels that had been crafted in his Jerusalem workshop.
Then there’s the marvellous Louis Majorelle drawing room wherein the cabinetry, fire and lighting have been attributed to the well-known Artwork Nouveau designer (sadly the information for these creations had been destroyed in fires).
On the highest flooring is the billiard room with its excessive, vaulted ceiling and strong timber flooring scattered with oriental carpets. This house is dominated by an Artwork Deco fire and a full-size Nineteen Forties billiard desk that may tempt you to play, or you possibly can chill out in one of many inviting settees and choose one thing from the built-in cabinets crammed with books and board video games.
Every bed room is generously proportioned and wealthy in character, embellished with interval furnishings and authentic artworks that commemorate the constructing’s heritage. The Artwork Deco Suite is light-filled and stylish, with sycamore and maple panelling, velvet-clad partitions and a definite sense of Nineteen Twenties French glamour. In distinction, the Macassar Suite encompasses a dramatic vaulted ceiling with uncovered A-frame timbers, whereas its spacious toilet is discreetly hid behind ornate Moorish doorways. The Empire Suite appears like a non-public interval condominium, full with bespoke monochrome toile de Jouy wallpapers and materials, authentic artworks, a carved stone fire, and a putting marble-and-mosaic toilet.
The wine cave dates again to 881, constructed within the aftermath of Viking raids as a part of a community of tunnels and escape rooms designed to shelter inhabitants from future assaults. Right now, Deborah and Gordon can organize champagne, wine and whisky tastings right here — an unforgettable solution to admire the traditional vaulted ceiling and hint the thumbprints nonetheless seen within the bricks, left by their makers greater than a thousand years in the past. One closing gem awaits above floor: a wonderful non-public backyard, the right place to unwind on a heat summer season night.
And sure, Le Macassar is an enormous attract its personal proper – however there’s a lot to see within the space, it’s value venturing out.
Memorial websites
When you’re coming to northern France to go to WWI memorial websites, Le Macassar is a perfect base: the important thing websites are in straightforward attain and after a day of emotional experiences, you possibly can return to a calming retreat and really feel cocooned.
The Villers Bretonneux Memorial and Army Cemetery in France. The memorial was constructed after the Armistice and holds the graves of 1089 British troopers’, 779 Australians, 267 Canadians, 4 Afrikaners and a couple of New Zealanders. On the far finish of the cemetery stands the Australian Memorial, the place the names of 11,000 males are engraved and people ‘recognized solely to God’.
Simply half-hour away is Thiepval, dwelling to the world’s largest Commonwealth memorial and the point of interest for individuals who died on the Somme however haven’t any recognized grave. Right here, you may also go to the Thiepval Museum, which presents the historical past of World Battle One from all sides, together with the recollections of these concerned.
Nature and Biking
The Somme river valley is a superb possibility for individuals who benefit from the outside; select from a variety of mountain climbing choices, every with well-marked trails and totally different ranges of problem. There are additionally marked routes that take you alongside the river or by way of the tranquil again roads to go to close by villages.
Fabulous French visits close by
This can be a great space to discover, and there are many day journeys to get pleasure from purely for pleasure. The attractive city of Amiens, with its immense Gothic cathedral, the most important in France, is 25 minutes west of Le Macassar. Amiens has even been nicknamed ‘the Venice of the north’ due to its medieval floating gardens, Les Hortillonnages with 65km of waterways dotted with islands that had been as soon as used to develop crops and crops.
The Underground Metropolis of Nours, a 30-minute drive north of Corbie is a novel expertise. Constructed within the Center Ages, the caves sheltered locals and their animals from marauding armies proper up till the seventeenth century. At its peak, there have been 300 rooms and 30 massive chambers constructed within the former chalk mine. Throughout WWI it was a well-liked go to for Commonwealth troopers who carved their names into the chalk. Many had been later recognized and within the museum a few of their tales are advised.
Head an hour northwest of Corbie and also you’ll arrive on the coast the place you’ll uncover the Baie de Somme Picardy, formally one of many ‘Most Stunning Bays of the World’, dotted with picturesque fishing villages joined by a steam practice railway circuit which crossed the maritime regional nature park with magnificent pure landscapes It is usually dwelling to the Parc du Marquenterre, an ornithological sanctuary that extends over 200 hectares of marshes, dunes and reed beds. Take pleasure in recent seafood at one of many many eating places in these villages.
And for those who want to not drive, there’s a practice station in Corbie and you may journey simply to Amiens (round quarter-hour, and from the place you possibly can journey to Paris in beneath and hour making Paris a straightforward day journey), Arras and Lille with its many museums, artwork galleries, historic structure and unbelievable eating places.
Whether or not you’re planning a visit to go to memorial websites or just wish to discover a picturesque a part of France, it is a fabulous area for a break. And for those who keep at Le Macassar, you’ll really feel that you’ve got your personal little piece of French paradise ready for you on the finish of every day.
Discover out extra and guide your keep at Le Macassar: lemacassar.com
