The charming and vibrant city of Amiens gives you the opportunity for cultural discovery as well as the chance to relax over a leisurely evening meal and breakfast as a stopover on the A16 motorway between Paris and the Channel ferry and Eurotunnel port of Calais.
Amiens, a surprising town
Wander at your own pace along cobbled streets filled with centuries-old history, take a boat and get lost in the maze of islands of the Hortillonnages dotted with contemporary art, climb up the cathedral towers to take a break from the hustle and bustle and visit the incredibly colorful Picardy Museum... Here, France’s largest Gothic cathedral becomes even more spectacular on summer evenings thanks to a state-of-the-art sound-and-light show that illuminates its main facade.
Follow us and soak up the spirit of this calm, walkable town where most sites can be reached on foot!
Powerful emotion: "these stones ring true"
In his Bible of Amiens, John Ruskin affirms, “it is the ‘Parthenon of the Gothic’ taming the verticality freed from gravity (in the 13th century!), in a city rich from trading with London alongside pilgrimsworshipping the relic of the skull of Saint John the Baptist.”
From the cathedral square, the facade makes you dizzy; in the towers, climb the 307 spiral steps leading up to the gallery of venerable kings, their majestic faces radiating humanity. But above all, what a view! Shades of milky greens, hrouded in mist, which turn purple in the evening before sinking into the blue night. The rose window celebrates the sun and on Saint John, the day of the summer solstice, the rays mysteriously point to the heart of the labyrinth. In the evening, go through the Saint Leu district to feel the beating heart of the city: an interlacing of alleys and canals where colourful homes are located alongside bars and restaurants on the quays along the Somme. Love at first sight on the roof terrace of the Nelson: you toast together, above the fray and with a lovely view of the cathedral!
Chroma at Amiens cathedral: a breath-taking light show from the square
At nightfall, from mid-June to mid-September and in december, Amiens’ UNESCO-listed Gothic cathedral draws crowds with a stunning sound-and-light show... "Chroma" turns the facade of the cathedral into a spectacle of light, like a myriad of fireflies caressing the stone as they swirl. Their multicoloured dance proclaims the genius of the builders of the largest, most accomplished of Gothic cathedrals, built with a high degree of continuity in 60 years. Chroma evokes the wars which miraculously spared the building, and the Middle Ages are reflected by a shower of blue woad petals. But above all, it highlights the great many details of the sculptures. Truly extraordinary. The lady of stone, iron and glass – a miracle of balance – becomes a fantastic, moving character, which ignites, dies out, transforms, blends with the starry sky. Waves of stained-glass flow from the rose window to the columns, strange signs move in response to the frenzy of modern-day music...
The audience is fascinated...
The Museum of Picardy in Amiens
A deep mystery to be savoured over the course of half an hour If you are looking to truly open your spirit, visit the Picardy Museum, only three minutes’ walk from the city centre. It has just reopened after three years of meticulous work to restore its authentic 19th century essence. “We make art accessible to everyone by telling inspiring stories,” promises the museum’s director Laure Dalon. You arrive via the multicoloured Rotunda painted by Sol LeWitt, opposite the 19th century lounge... Each room has its own style. The walls are punctuated by bold colours, such as a “woad” blue for the medieval virgins. A bit further, a crowd of statues rub … "Au-delà des Saules", your little house in the heart of the Hortillonnages shoulders in wide landscapes. The emblematic staircase decorated with frescoes by Puvis de Chavannes leads upstairs, where skylights and tall windows flood the portraits with light and allow the eye to escape towards the city roofs. “To humanise the journey, we expose the faces that observe us. And we thus emerge from the bits of our reserves.” You forget the time... Then the enticing smell of coffee created by the Dasi brothers draws you to the visitors’ lounge, where you relax on sofas and admire the chapel.
Markets Days
Saturday mornings, quai d’Amont. Once a year in June, the «hortillons» bring their fruits, vegetables and flowers by boat to sell along the quay. L’île aux fruits: every Thursday, a great place for a sociable rendezvous. This
market features local produce, music and a good atmosphere.
325 rue de Verdun in Amiens, Thursdays from 5pm to 9pm.
Staying Over
Le Prieuré, 3-star hotel that was the home of a church canon who made his way to the cathedral underground. Unusual, colourful decor with a small hanging garden ideal for a quiet drink at the foot of the cathedral.
17-6 rue Porion,
Amiens
Le Marotte, 5-star hotel where guests are greeted as friends; a mansion with a contemporary extension, completely quiet, calm, tucked away in the heart of the city centre. The sommelier inspires you to linger in the lounge to taste little-known wines.
3 rue Marotte,
Amiens
Au-delà des Saules holiday homes In these individual wooden cottages nestled on a small island in the heart of the Hortillonnages, you feel completely secluded... Organic breakfast can be delivered as an option. To top it off, bikes and boats are available to guests!
145 chemin de Halage, Rivery
Eating out
At the water’s edge Le Quai restaurant for authentic duck pâté from Amiens, a crusted foie gras appreciated by the Marquise de Sévigné.
13-15 quai Belu,
Amiens
Near the cathedral: The La Peña family bistro offers inventive cuisine, a friendly team, Sunday brunch.
45 rue Robert de Luzarches, Amiens
In the Hortillonnages (floating gardens), just outside the city centre, Au fil de l’eau.
Friendly, simple, delicious, with a terrace and garden that dip into the Hortillonnages.
6 boulevard de Beauvillé, Amiens
The robin room original and run by a British team! Whimsical decor and very inventive menus based on fresh, local produce. A cooperative spirit reigns; cooking workshops are offered and Sunday brunch.
9 rue Flatters,
Amiens
Shopping
Macarons from Amiens can be found at the Maison Trogneux on the cathedral square
23 rue André,
Amiens
Don't miss
Bargain-hunters meet at the foot of the cathedral on the last Saturday of the month in summer and during the giant car boot sales organised in the spring and fall. They attract 80,000 visitors browsing the 2,000 stalls spread over 51 streets (April and October)
Tourist Board Information of Amiens
23 Place Notre Dame
F- 80000 Amiens
Tel: + 33 3 22 71 60 50
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