Amiens, Heritage and Tradition
Whether you are on foot or by bike, Amiens is appealing,captivating city to get away from it all. This authentic city has retained all of its traditions and nurtures its past.
UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE
Amiens has been listed three times as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, twice for Amiens Cathedral in 1981 and again in 1998 for the Way of Saint James of Compostela, and for the Belfry. Amiens is renowned for the quality of this heritage which has a huge symbolic value. There is no doubt that you will be impressed by these magnificent gems.
Cathédrale - © L. RousselinTruly splendid!
NOTRE-DAME CATHEDRAL, AMIENS
Built over sixty or so years (1220-1288), the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Amiens presents a remarkable stylistic unity.
The harmony of its proportions, the purity of its lines, its generous statuary and genuine stone lacework all go to make it one of the most beautiful examples of Gothic art ever built.
With its double inscription in the World Heritage list of UNESCO, Notre-Dame Cathedral is highly impressive!
In this incredible building, embark upon a timeless tour, enlightened by the knowledge of your guide.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Option of a guided visit of the cathedral, focusing on your choice of 3 themes:
- Construction techniques and materials
- Sculpture
- Polychromic decoration
Duration: 1 hour
Price: €140 - maximum of 30 people per guide
Additional fee Sundays/Bank Holidays: + €40 per guide
VISIT TO NOTRE-DAME CATHEDRAL WITH AN AUDIOGUIDE
A visit to Notre-Dame Cathedral with an audioguide gives you the opportunity to discover the cathedral in complete freedom and at your own pace.
Duration: 1 hour
Adult versions: French, English, German, Dutch, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Chinese.
Children's version available in French and English.
Designed for children aged 7 and 12, the children's audio guide allows them to discover the wonders of the cathedral with a tool specially designed for them.
15 steps to learn all about this great lady!
By prior arrangement - outside religious ceremonies
Price: €3 / audioguide (from 15 units rented).
Can be hired from the reception of the Amiens Métropole Tourist and Convention Bureau
ALSO TO BE DISCOVERED
Tours - Cathédrale - © L. RousselinSuggested for small groups
THE CATHEDRAL TOWERS
Climb the 307 steps and arrive at the top of the cathedral to gain a magnificent panoramic view of Amiens! You will get dizzy just looking at the spire that rises to 112.7 metres.
Duration: 1 hour
Price: €110 - maximum of 18 people per guide
Entrance fees for the towers is paid on site at the National Monuments Centre
Additional fee Sundays/Bank Holidays: + €40 per guide
trésor - c-amiensSuggested for small groups
THE CATHEDRAL TREASURE
The Treasure Vault is an icon of gothic art, with its presentation of the cathedral’s liturgical objects. Here you will discover reliquaries as well as the liturgical vessels used to celebrate religious ceremonies. The different parts of the bishop’s vestments are also exhibited.
Duration: 1 hour
Price: €110 - maximum of 10 people per guide
Entrance fees for the treasure vault are paid on site at the National Monuments Centre
Additional fee Sundays/Bank Holidays: + €40 per guide
Le Beffroi - Samuel CramponSuggested for small groups
THE BELFRY
The Belfry of Amiens was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in July 2005 alongside 23 belfries in the regions of Nord-Pas de Calais and Picardie. It dates from Medieval times and is located in the Place au Fil. It is a symbol of Amiens’ independence from feudal power. It was the first Town Hall, but is known in particular for its role as a prison. After you have climbed around one hundred steps up to the terrace, you will be rewarded by breathtaking view of the city and the 18th Century clock tower. Catch your breath and enjoy!
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Price: €110 - maximum of 18 people per guide
+ 1€ per person Belfry entrance
Additional fee Sundays/Bank Holidays: + €40 per guide
THE MUSEUM OF PICARDY
Our provincial version of the Louvre is every bit as good as the original in Paris!
The Museum of Picardy was built between 1855 and 1867 under the reign of Napoleon III, and was the first building to be built in France specifically as a museum of fine art.
At the Museum of Picardy you can journey through time and art from prehistory through to today’s contemporary period. You pass through a wealth of archaeological collections, medieval art, sculpture and painting.
Musée de Picardie - © A.SidoliTHE MUSEUM OF PICARDY
Accompanied by your expert guide, explore the museum’s permanent collections to gain a stronger grasp of the museum’s rich archaeological, artistic and historical exhibitions. A fantastic journey from prehistoric times to the present day.
A wide choice of themed visits allows you to discover the permanent collections through a particular field, theme, technique or even time period.
- The museum, its architecture and decoration
- The basics: visit to discover the museum (90 minutes), or one of the departments (Archaeology; Middle Ages, Fine Art, Modern and Contemporary Art)
- Faces and figures: painted portraits from the 16th to the 20th century
- The birthplace of Acheulean: Prehistory at the museum
- Magnificent civilisations: Antiquity at the museum
- Sculpting in Amiens: from the Middle Ages to the present day
Duration: 1 hour/1 hour 30 minutes depending on the theme
Maximum of 25 people per guide
We also offer guided visits to the temporary exhibitions.
Opening hours:
From Tuesdays to Fridays 9.30 am until 7 pm and Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays 11.00 am until 7 pm
(6 pm from September to April)
Closed on Mondays, 1st January, 1st May and 25th December.
The museum is occasionally open in the evenings for evening events, depending on the programme. There is the possibility of visiting the museum in the evening.
Information and reservations:
Tel: +33(0)03.22.97.14.00
resa.mp@amiens-metropole.com
The museum has disabled access and offers visits that are specially adapted for those with a disability or reduced mobility, upon reservation.
musée picardie - OTAMa.defrancquevilleTHE PUYS OF AMIENS CATHEDRAL
AT THE MUSEUM OF PICARDY
This tour is the ideal occasion to present the exceptional Puys d’Amiens collection, including paintings exhibited at the museum and those still kept in the cathedral.
Duration: 2.5 hours on foot
Price: €190 - maximum of 20 people per guide
Additional fee Sundays/Bank Holidays: + €40 per guide
musée picardie - OTAMa.defrancquevilleTHE CATHEDRAL AND THE MEDIEVAL COLLECTIONS
AT THE MUSEUM OF PICARDY
Visit Notre-Dame Cathedral in Amiens and discover, along with your guide, the medieval collections of the Museum of Picardy, including special exhibits to celebrate 800 years of the building.
Duration: 2.5 hours on foot
Price: €190 - maximum of 20 people per guide
Additional fee Sundays/Bank Holidays: + €40 per guide
TEXTILE HERITAGE
Amiens was an economic powerhouse from the 12th to the 20th Century, based on its textile industry. From its small workshops to mechanised industry, textiles have left a social, cultural and residential mark.
Association Bleu de Cocagne - Bleu de CocagneBLEU DE COCAGNE ASSOCIATION
"Bleu de Cocagne", Amiens’ textile conservatory, has preserved the major developments that have revolutionised weaving and finishing: shuttleless looms, mechanised shearing of sheets and continuous printing with engraved copper rollers invented by Bonvallet in 1775. These inventions made the excellence of Amiens known far and wide, like Utrecht velvet and corduroy!
The highlight is a 25-ton machine which is the last of its kind in Europe dating from the 1930s, that is capable of achieving the outstanding quality of copper roller printing like those of ‘Toile de Jouy’.
BLEU DE COCAGNE - otam.vm"Bleu de Cocagne" is on the historic premises of the Manufacture de Velours Cosserat in the Montières Quarter to the west of Amiens.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Maximum of 10 people per guide
Suitable for groups with an interest in our industrial heritage.
Information and reservations:
“Bleu de Cocagne” Association
200, rue Maberly, 80000 Amiens
www.bleudecocagne.org