Logis Hôtel de la Basilique

We were a small group of friends touring the WW1 battlefields. The idea was to book a traditional family run hotel that was comfortable, good value, and that we could have a nice dinner chatting about our day. We had to amend the booking, which was smoothly done via email, Everything was as expected - with service exceeding. Would recommend.

The hotel is comfortable as are the beds. The rooms are an ok size and the shower worked. What more could you ask for. Staff are friendly and food at restaurant was excellent. Definitely recommend if doing a Somme Tour as it is close to most major memorial sites

Perfect place to stay with all the amenities you could ask for. Very well run establishment with great staff.

Located close to train station with nice view of basilica. Owners are very kind and helpful. Breakfast and dinner were good.

The hotel rooms are comfortable, a reasonable size but simple, kept very clean. The restaurant is outstanding in terms of food quality and service. The prices charged are also reasonable. The Hotel's central position in the town is ideal for those who like to amble and for its proximity to the WW1 museum and church. Car parking in the blue zones around the hotel is unlimited for UK tourists with a British registered car. We will be back!

I have been to this hotel many times and would highly recommend it if you are in the area. The rooms have very comfortable beds with great en-suite facilities.||The restaurant is fabulous with delicious homecooked food and excellent wines.||The owners and staff are very friendly and helpful. I will definitely be staying again.

We stayed for 2 nights in this Logis hotel in the centre of Albert. Everything was good, nice comfort beds, good bathroom with a great shower, TV with English channels. We ate dinner there both nights and it was very good, the quality of the steaks and the cooking was perfect. The breakfasts were extensive and great quality. And the staff were lovely too. Oh, and we could park outside in the street for free.

We stayed here for one night while cycling through France. Friendly, helpful staff who accommodated our bikes. Great breakfast with fruit, yoghurt, croissants and fresh bread. The room was clean and comfortable and had a great rain shower. Would stay here again

The church of Notre Dame of Brébières in Albert features in many photographs of the First World War, due to its famous 'leaning Virgin'. Built between 1885-1895, the basilica was constructed to house the famous 14th-century image of the Virgin Mary, from which the church takes its name, and accommodate the ever more numerous pilgrims coming to venerate the statue. The architect, Edmond Duthoit, designed a spectacular building of red brick and local stone in the Moorish style, with a complex and elaborate interior decorative scheme, featuring frescoes, mosaics and coloured marbles. The focus of the exterior design was a tower 62m high, surmounted by a gilded statue of the Virgin presenting Christ to the world, designed by the sculptor Albert Roze. Unfortunately, Albert was in the centre of hostilities from 1915 until 1918, and the town suffered hugely during the bombardments. In 1915, the basilica was hit by a German shell: this dislodged the statue, which leaned precariously to a near-horzontal position - but it did not fall. It became famous amongst soldiers on both sides of the conflict, inspiring a legend that whichever side caused the statue of the 'Leaning Virgin' to fall, would lose the war. In 1918, Albert was overrun by the German 'Spring offensive', and the basilica once again became the target of attack, as the British sought to prevent the tower from being used as a look-out post. It was a British shell which finally destroyed the tower and the statue in April 1918: the remains of the statue were irrecoverable amongst the rubble. Huge efforts were made after the war to restore the church, with the architect's son, Edouard Duthoit, using his father's original designs. An exact replica of Roze's statue was also constructed, and re-erected, with great ceremony, in 1931. It stands out for miles across the plain of the High Somme as a distinctive landmark, and completely dominates the central square of the town. Although the interior has suffered from water damage, the decorative scheme is largely intact and it is an impressive interior space. The statue of the Virgin is once again a place of pilgrimage, alongside those coming to pay their respects to those lost on both sides of the war which made it famous in the 20th Century.

In this rural area there are not many choices. But this was a lucky find. It is simple clean and comfortable. Dinner in their own dining room was a pleasant surprise - large salads, great lamb shank and well presented desserts. All good value for money if you're not on a tight budget