Doingt: Via Francigena, Menhir and Circular Trail
Accommodation in Doingt
Doingt offers several specific points of interest for a stay: an easy circular trail with a stated duration, the official route of the Via Francigena, and traces of prehistoric and local history. The Sentier de Doingt-Flamicourt is a clearly defined walking option; the Via Francigena, by contrast, is a network of pilgrimage roads and paths. The menhir, settlement history and crucifix lead to other aspects from different periods.
Circular Trail and Via Francigena
The Sentier de Doingt-Flamicourt is an easy 9 km circular trail, with a stated duration of 2 hours and 30 minutes. Its distance and timeframe make it possible to assess the scope of the route before planning. The circular trail begins at the former PĂ©ronne railway station in Flamicourt. In Flamicourt, the path runs alongside marshes. Its section along a former railway line leads to the outskirts of the River Cologne. The starting point, landscape and railway line offer different points of reference if you are considering the circular trail as part of your stay.
The Via Francigena is different: Doingt-Flamicourt lies on its official route. The Via Francigena, also known as the “Voie des Français,” is a network of pilgrimage roads and paths for pilgrims travelling from France to Rome. The name therefore describes a network of routes, while the Sentier de Doingt-Flamicourt is a specific circular trail with its own distance and duration. If you are interested in pilgrimage routes, you can keep these two different scales in mind when planning your trip.
Menhir and Local History
The Menhir de Doingt, also known as Pierre de Gargantua, dates from the Neolithic period. It is located in Doingt between the River Cologne and the D937. Both its historical period and its stated location are clearly defined. The menhir offers a different focus for exploring Doingt than the route descriptions: here, the focus is on a single prehistoric monument, while the circular trail and the Via Francigena each refer to a route or network of routes.
The history of the crucifix from the church in Doingt includes two dated events. Reverend Hooson found the crucifix in the ruins of the church in 1917. On 1 July 2023, a delegation from Tinwell returned it to the church in Doingt. Its discovery and return mark different stages in the history of the object. Together with the menhir, they offer two distinct historical perspectives: a Neolithic monument and a crucifix whose more recent history can be understood through these events.
Flamicourt: Development and Reconstruction
Flamicourt’s residential area, which was established before the First World War, developed along the road to Doingt, now called Rue Joliot-Curie. Its development was encouraged by the Péronne-Flamicourt railway station. The area was largely destroyed during the First World War and rebuilt according to plans by several Parisian architects. Its beginnings, the importance of the road and railway station, and its destruction and reconstruction can thus be distinguished as successive aspects of local history.
The details about the circular trail help you assess a specific route option with a stated timeframe. The historical topics offer a different perspective, from the Neolithic period to reconstruction after the First World War.
Discover more destinations: Fransu, Aumâtre, Conty, Ponches-Estruval, Méneslies, Mailly-Maillet, Fontaine-Sur-Somme, Vers-Sur-Selles.
See the regional travel overview: Somme.
