Home to one of the largest churches in France, Amiens is a riverfront city overlooking the Somme. It centres around the atmospheric streets of the Quartier Saint-Leu, which are lined with boutiques, cafes and bars, while being traversed by meandering canals dotted with colourful flower markets.
Things to do in Amiens
In the heart of the city is the Cathedrale Notre-Dame d’Amiens, which is dominated by an intricately carved facade. It was constructed in the 12th century in a High Gothic style and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Step inside to explore the light-filled interior, which was designed to reach towards the heavens and features several beautiful stained-glass windows. Nearby is a medieval square belfry that can be toured with a guide.
Art enthusiasts shouldn’t miss a visit to the Musée de Picardie, which occupies a Second Empire-style building designed by Henri Parent and Arthur-Stanislas Diet. In addition to French paintings from the 17th to 20th centuries, it houses several Gothic masterpieces from the Amiens Cathedral. You can get up close to archaeological finds from Picardy, as well as artefacts from ancient Greece and Egypt.
On the southern edge of the city centre is the Maison de Jules Verne where the adventure novelist lived in the late 19th century. Now open as a museum, it features period-furnished rooms where many of Verne’s personal objects and manuscripts are on display. The property also features an inspiring winter garden.
Getting around Amiens
Amiens is around two hours’ drive from the centre of Paris and 1.5 hours from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. Trains connect from destinations across France to the Amiens railway station and buses travel throughout the city. The centre of Amiens is compact enough to explore on foot.