The Cathedral and floating gardens of Amiens

Situated at an important crossroads, the capital of Picardie has been for centuries an economic, artistic and intellectual center. Linked to water, Amiens is built along several branches and canals of the Somme.

More than half of the city was deeply damaged during World War 2nd. The 13th century cathedral escaped war miraculously. Listed as World Heritage by UNESCO, Notre Dame is the largest gothic monument of France (length 45m, height of the vaults 43m).

See the impressive West porch, the maze, the magnificent nave, the 13th century recumbent figures, the 110 oak carved choirstalls, the rich statuary (the Weeping Angel), and the splendid stained-glass windows. The Route des Cathedrales allows to learn more about the evolution of French gothic style : Amiens, Senlis, Noyon, Laon, Soissons and Beauvais.

The very attractive site of the "hortillonnages" (from the latin hortus : garden) covers about 300 hectares and can be visited by "cornets"(special black boats fit to the canals). The vegetables are sold every Saturday morning at the floating market.

Amiens offers many other treasures among which the Belfry, the zoological garden, the Musee de Picardie, the 19th century circus, Jules Verne's house and grave and Saint-Leu district, also called "little Venice of the North".

Should you decide to travel to Peronne and pay a visit to the city and the Great War Museum, stop for a few hours at Vaux, a green paradise along the Somme.

More information :

» Useful websites

» » Search also Francerama directory