Amiens Cathedral
By Jen Ciesielski
What is Amiens Cathedral?
Amiens Cathedral is one of the most impressive Gothic-style cathedrals in France. Initially, it was built to reach the heavens, and the interior was designed to let as much light in as possible. The result was a gigantic church with an inner volume twice that of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. And, as if that wasn’t enough, it only took 68 years to complete (1220-1288). Its most notable features include the rose window on the western face, the spire, and the intricate sculptures above the main entrance.
Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. Making a purchase through an affiliate link will mean a small commission for this website. This will not affect your price.
Why is the Amiens Cathedral a UNESCO World Heritage site?
The Amiens Cathedral was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1981 for its impressive interior (including its size and beauty), stained glass windows, and remarkable sculptures, which UNESCO calls “prodigious.”
It also was used as a model and influenced the “later development of Gothic architecture.” In fact, it was one of the first examples where flamboyant style architecture was used to design a monument.
What can you expect on a visit to Amiens?
Despite being one of the lesser-known destinations in France, you can expect to see a city rich in history, culture, and architecture.
Amiens Cathedral is the main attraction for visitors. There’s the main part of the church where you can walk through its gigantic nave and see all the reasons why it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. You can also climb to the top for a stunning view of the city and you can visit the treasury.
The main part is free to visit, but there is a small fee to climb the towers and tour the treasury.
In addition, if you’re visiting in the summer or in December, light projections are shown on the face of the cathedral at night.
But there’s more to do in Amiens than see the cathedral.
There are the Hortillonnages d’Amiens which is a series of floating gardens. You can take a boat tour or follow one of three footpaths that circle around the exterior of the gardens.
Another must-see is the Musée de Picardie. This fine arts and archaeology museum houses a vast collection of archaeological artifacts, paintings, and sculptures from prehistoric times to the modern day.
The Maison de Jules Verne is also a popular museum. It’s the former home of the famous French writer and now serves to showcase his life and work. You can visit where he spent the last 30 or so years of his life and see exhibits dedicated to his famous novels.
In terms of architecture, there is the Tour Perret, France’s first skyscraper. Completed in 1952, it stands at 110 meters. It’s a residential building, so you can’t go inside, but it’s still worth stopping by.
There’s also the Beffroi d’Amiens. This towering belfry once served as a watch tower, prison, and meeting place. The structure you see today dates to the 15th century. Since 2005, it has been part of a UNESCO World Heritage site along with 54 others as “the Belfries of Belgium and France.” You can go to the top, but only on a tour with the tourist office.
Of course, no trip to Amiens is complete without visiting the St. Leu neighborhood. This charming district is filled with narrow streets, picturesque bridges, and quaint cafes. It’s the perfect place to take a stroll, grab a bite to eat, or go shopping.
Is Amiens worth visiting?
Yes, a visit to Amiens is worth it. It’s not that well-known so I didn’t know what to expect. I ended up falling in love with its history, architecture, and the St.Leu district. It was near the end of summer when I visited, before the Hortillonnages d’Amiens closed for the season.
I was most surprised by how much there was to do. For a small city, there’s a good mixture of outdoor and cultural activities.
Amiens is also very walkable, and most attractions are within a 10-minute walk of each other. It makes it easy to visit the highlights in a day.
What sorts of travelers would like the Amiens Cathedral?
Amiens is not the first city that comes to mind when planning a trip to France. It’s more for people who want to explore something other than Paris or Lyon and less for first-time visitors. If you’re visiting northern France, Amiens is a great addition to your itinerary.
Tips for visiting Amiens
While Amiens does have public transport, you won’t need it to see most of the attractions. And, since you’ll be doing a lot of walking, you’ll want to wear a comfortable pair of shoes.
The most popular site is the Amiens Cathedral, so if you want to visit it without the crowds, it’s best to arrive in the morning.
Boat tours of the Hortillonnages operate from April to October.
Tour Amiens at your own pace with this audio tour.
Find your accommodations in Amiens using the map below:
Where is Amiens?
Amiens is in northern France. It doesn’t have an international airport, but it does have a well-served train station that is somewhat easy to get to. Then, from Amiens’ central station, it’s only a 10-minute walk to the Amiens Cathedral.
The closest major cities are Paris, 162 km (100 miles) away, and Brussels at 231 km (143 miles) from Amiens. The drive is about two hours from Paris, three hours from Brussels. Park your car behind Amiens’ train station and walk to the Amiens Cathedral from there: Parking Amiens Gare La Vallée – EFFIA – 80 Rue de la Vallée.
The train trip from Paris takes about 1 hour 25 minutes, while from Brussels it takes 3-4 hours, depending on stops.
For more information about the Amiens Cathedral in Amiens, its opening hours, and admission fees, see its official website Amiens – Office de Tourisme.
Have you been to Amiens Cathedral? If so, do you have any additional information or advice about this UNESCO World Heritage site? Please add your comments below!
Text and photos provided by Jen Ciesielski of Dabbling in Jet Lag. Based in France, Jen shares her experience as an expat as well as the best things to do around the country. Her goal is to inspire others to get off the beaten path and explore some lesser-known places.