The Picardians, body and soul

Picardy is the land of the Picards, both the cradle of France and a land of simple and genuine pleasures; land of rural common sense rooted in a solid country ancestry. The “Picard spirit” could be summed up in the paradox between its tremendous history and self-effacement. “Reserved, a Picard does not like to draw attention to himself, still less overshadow other people, and this self-effacement is utterly sincere. They are astonished that anyone could be interested in them, it may even make them suspicious. Centuries of being attacked and besieged cannot be obliterated at a stroke” summarises Sophie de Paillette in her book, “Picardy Body and Soul”.

A Picard is therefore discreet, even if he feels a certain pride in passing on to others the values that make the men of this land noble: sincerity, loyalty, courage and pleasure in a job well done.

Where a general interest exists, a Picard neglects his needs to think and act collectively. What La Fontaine expresses with "All power is weak without unity", and a Picard with “All together, there will never be too many of us” reveals this collective mindset. As for the Picard method of “do it as you go along”, this is a model of pragmatism and tenacity combined. As is the sense of seeking new challenges through masterpieces – Picardy is a land of cathedral builders.
With the second highest number of classified historical monuments in France, Picardy is the ideal land of cultural discovery. It also cultivates a real talent for stimulating the imagination (Jules Verne wrote his most famous novels in his house in Amiens) and giving birth to new ideas…
This inventive and populist spirit is found in the Picard language which is a vehicle for the famous Picard “mischievous irony”, inherited from the fabliaux (fables in verse). The Picard language has given rise to an extensive literature, from the Middle Ages to contemporary novels, plays and songs in Picard… and the cartoon books “Tintin chez les picards” (“Tintin in Picardy” – but not actually published in English) and "Asterix and the Class Act" in Picard, holder of the sales record for literature in a regional language.

Picards continue to surprise, and as Nathalie Colinet, Picardy ambassador affirms, “Picardy is not unlike us Picards, you have to make an effort to get to know it, but it’s well worth it. Because each little thing is worth the detour.”

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