View of the belfry from rue Henri IV:

one of the twenty-three belfries on the UNESCO world heritage list. This is the southernmost one. The rue Flatters serves as a reminder that Amiens was 60% destroyed during the Second World War. The horses trot in front of the law faculty in rue Vanmarke. In Amiens, one inhabitant in six is a student.

Direction the Saint-Leu district and its typical houses that have been faithfully restored. They are made of timber frames and cob. What a delight to hear the horseshoes on the paving stones! In the Middle Ages, the city had 500 market gardeners, or “hortillons”. Today, only 7 still sell their wares on the water market on Saturday morning. After rue de la Dodane, boulevard du Cange. On the left is the 22-hectare Saint-Pierre park. In front of you is the Tour Perret, which in the fifties was the tallest building here (104 m).

Straight on to the city centre. At Place Saint-Michel, admire the statue of Pierre l’Hermitte, who led the first crusade in 1801. In front is the old Saint-Martin abbey, with a bas-relief reminding you that it was here in Amiens, in 338, that the saint shared his coat with a poor man. In 1881, the court house was one of the biggest in France, after Paris. Every Sunday in summer, an orchestra plays on the bandstand. Admire the reproduction of the rococo style Dewailly clock. Then, back to Notre-Dame via the rue Henri IV.