Abbeville

Abbeville Coat of Arms

Abbeville is a town in the County of Picardy, within the Kingdom of France, 12 mi. from the English Channel and 28 mi. northwest of Amiens. Located on the river Somme, it's an important town of west Picardy as a commercial marketing centre.

In the 9th century, Abbeville became a fortress city defending the mouth of the Somme River, as in medieval times it was the lowest crossing point across the Somme. A charter was granted in 1184. The Gothic Cathedral of Saint Vulfran, begun in 1488, is the best known landmark; in 1650, plans exist for adding a vaulted choir to the structure.

Goods produced in and around Abbeville include refined sugar, cloth^2R, linen, tablecloths^2R, rope and fastening locks. Population (c.1650), 3,900.