1 day in Amiens

Hauts-de-France/2022

Partly pedestrianized, the center of Amiens is always lively, and while franchises abound, as they do everywhere, there's a sense of unity and solidarity common to many towns in the Hauts-de-France region. This medium-sized city, on a human scale and a long way from Lille, is the region's second largest conurbation in terms of population, with a catchment area of almost 400,000 inhabitants.

Amiens is like a city in the country. Just 10 km from the city center, and you're in the middle of beet and potato fields. Or the city by the sea. Half an hour is all it takes to reach the waves and the Parc du Marquenterre. Famous for its canals, which make the Saint-Leu district the goal of a romantic stroll, this little "Venice of the North" is also festive, with some 25,000 students livening up the many bars. It's also a city of history, home to France's largest cathedral, the adopted home of visionary writer Jules Verne, and the birthplace of French President Emmanuel Macron, who was born here in 1977. Partly destroyed in 1940 during the so-called Battle of Amiens, the city was rebuilt according to the principles of the time, notably those of architect Auguste Perret, who made his name in Le Havre. Amiens is best visited from the cathedral to the Jules Verne circus, via the Saint-Rémi church, the prefecture and the Musée de Picardie. Don't miss La Halle au Frais, at the foot of the belfry (open Tuesday to Saturday and Sunday mornings) and the surrounding shopping streets, rue de Metz and rue Flatters. From the circus, walk to the Jules Verne house, then to Place de la gare, and back to the city center via Rue de Noyon and Place René-Goblet. Here are the three must-see spots on this gourmet tour: Around the cathedral Amiens cathedral is a Gothic splendor and an architectural feat. At over 140 m in length and over 40 m high, it is the largest in France. Strolling through its vastness is a mystical vertigo for many worshippers. Built in the 13th century, and remodeled and embellished until the 16th century, it displays both unity and variety in its various Gothic styles. Admire the typical Flamboyant Gothic facade, with its rose windows, arches and spires pointing skywards, the extensive statuary, the beauty of the Radiant Gothic choir and the splendid oak choir stalls. Listed as a historic monument for 150 years, the cathedral has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981. Every summer and December, the cathedral is brought to life with a light-and-shadow scenography retracing its history and evolution, as well as that of the city through this emblematic building. There's also the "Intimate Experience" in the bishop's palace park, offering a more imaginary, dreamlike vision. The Saint-Leu district and the hortillonnages From the cathedral, take rue Saint-Leu down to the canals to begin your stroll. Stroll from bridge to bridge, past flowers and gardens, pretty brick houses, cafés and terraces, past the Saint-Leu church to the Dodane bridge. Cross the Somme on the Samarobriva footbridge, then join the towpath of the Parc Saint-Pierre, a vast 22-hectare expanse of greenery. Along this riverside road, you can enjoy the city's famous hortillonnages, gardens on the water covering 300 hectares in five communes. For the curious, the nearby Musée des Hortillonnages offers guided tours by electric boat. Parc de la Hotoie and the zoo The city's oldest green space was established at the gates of Amiens in 1678, but the site had already been used for recreation and parades since the Middle Ages. Its development continued throughout the 18th century. Today, visitors come to enjoy the 19-hectare site, its vast lake and pond where ducks and swans roam, as well as its many outdoor events and shows. Amiens Zoo adjoins the park. With an average of 170,000 visitors each year, it has doubled its number of admissions in twenty years and is home to around one hundred animal species.