The Somme tourist board

It's difficult to imagine all the violence and events which took place during the world war 1 in this quiet countryside. Today, Albert is a quiet city in the countryside of the Poppy Country. Several events and animations take place during the year.

© DR

The vast Town Hall, rebuilt in neo-flemish style is topped with a 64-metre high belfry. The richness of its Art Deco interior design, and its somewhat excessive scale, recall the prosperity of this industrial town in the inter-war years (machine tools and aeronautical engineering). It was inaugurated by the President of the Republic, Albert Lebrun, in 1932. In the main hall of the Town Hall, restored in the Flemish style, a large commemorative plaque underlines the importance attached by the French state to the restoration of the war-devastated regions.

© Patrick Noiret

Wandering in the city, you can admire the front of the houses, decorated in Art Deco style used in the 1920s and 1930s when the city was rebuilt.

It is based on a legend. In mediaeval times a sheperd is said to have discovered in the fields a miraculous statue of the Virgin, which attracted regular pilgrimages. Neo-byzantine in style, the church was designed by the Picard architect Edmond Duthoit and built between 1885 and 1895. After the terrible damage inflicted during the world war 1 it was rebuilt between 1927 and 1929 by the original architect's son and grandson.

The Virgin and Child at its tips are the work of the architect Albert Roze (a reconstruction period replica). In modern times the Notre-Dame de Brebières pilgrimage takes place during the first half of September. The miraculous 11th century statue of the Virgin is on display in the apse chapel and the basilica also has a remarquably richly decorated interior, with frescoes and mosaics.

© CDT Somme-Alba Bayés

Occupied by British troops in 1915, Albert keep the memory of Tommies and you can still hear the sound of the bagpipes.
The completely renovated ceiling of the stationows a Potez 36 aircraft. Henry Potez, a pioneer of of aircraft enginnering, was a native of Albert. In 1922 he set up an aircraft factory at Méaulte, which expanded and in 1970 beacame Aérospatiale and then EADS Airbus Industrie. He was the creator of Albert's development in the aeronautical industry.

To know more about the Somme 1916 Museum >

The Theatre is an high cultural place. This theatre welcomes all kind of events (exhibitions, fashion show, shows...) and international events as the International Wildlife Film Festival of Albert or World Championship of billiards.

- 17 circuits of walks and guided tours
- Aéro-club d'Albert-Méaulte : www.avion80.net

Markets

Saturday morning and first wednesday of each month

20th International Wildlife Film Festival of Albert : 20 to 28 March 2010