Le Hamel, Somme


Le Hamel is a commune in the Somme department and Hauts-de-France region of northern France.

Geography

Le Hamel is situated some 20 km east of Amiens in the valley of the Somme. The surrounding district is the historical Santerre, a lightly wooded and agricultural plateau.

History

The settlement is first documented in 1184 as belonging to the powerful abbey of Corbie. The name has the same root as hameau, a small rural settlement.
Like many places in the region, Le Hamel has experienced the ravages of war through the ages, from the conflicts between the French kings and their English, Burgundian, and Spanish adversaries to the battles of the First World War. It was a pivotal place in the latter conflict as the site of the Battle of Hamel which took place on 4 July 1918 and was a prelude to the summer offensive of 8 August later in the same year.

Places of interest