Amiens - 811 km

Known as Samarobriva in pre-Roman times and capital of the Ambiani (whence the modern name), Amiens became a Roman city, Christianized in the 4th century by St. Firmin, its first bishop. Its territory became the medieval countship of Amiénois, and its citizens profited from rivalry between bishop and count to gain a charter early in the 12th century. The Peace of Amiens (1802) marked a short pause in the Napoleonic Wars.

In 1914, after a brief incursion into the city, the invading Germans dug in 18 miles (29 km) east; their final drive in 1918 was stopped 8 miles (13 km) from the city. The Battle of Amiens was a pivotal World War I battle fought August 8 to 12, 1918 near Amiens in northern France. The battle was one of the first in the Allies' Hundred Days Offensive, which marked the beginning of the end of the war. Although the British led the Allied effort, Australian and Canadian soldiers contributed about half of the forces. The Americans played a small but important role in support, sending one division to the front. The Allies took seven miles on the first day alone and by the end of the battle it was a clear strategic and tactical victory for the Allies: the Germans were forced to retreat and would never again win a major victory. The majority of the German casualties were actually prisoners taken. More than 50,000 Germans were taken captive, many of them who surrendered rather than fight.

In World War II, Amiens was occupied by the Germans. After serious damage in both wars, the city centre was rebuilt.