Collégiale Saint-Martin

Located within the castle walls, the collegiate church of Saint Martin, originally a castle chapel, is well worth a visit. To find it you must first pass through the Gard gateway of Picquigny castle, a pointed stone arch flanked by two little turrets. A few metres of cobbled path lead to somewhere completely different! The collegiate church is tucked away at back of the old poultry yard, now a tranquil spot where you'll want to stroll around. Stop in the shade of a tree, breath in the lovely scent of lime flowers and study the church's architecture. Like Amiens cathedral, the collegiate church at Picquigny was built of limestone quarried at La Chaussée-Tirancourt. Look up and admire the imposing spire in Flamboyant Gothic style. In July and August the building is open to the public, thanks to members of the Amis de la Collégiale Association who spend the whole year working to save the church. Inside, the 13th century nave is flooded with light from narrow, pointed arch windows. To the right of the altar, before the chapel of Saint Sebastian, look at the floor where you will see a flagstone carved with the seal of the Lords of Picquigny. Below it is a crypt, sealed in the 1970s, in which were discovered the body of Lord Charles d'Ailly and his wife, Charlotte d'Ailly. In the chapel of Saint Sebastian look up to see the unusual intersecting ribs with the Picquigny coat-of-arms and that of the French Kings adorned with sun rays. You are sure to be aware of the solemn atmosphere in this chapel with its wall coating painted in black after the death of a Lord. Don't leave without going into the chapel of the Virgin to see the "church's treasure", a set of seven remarkable Baroque wooden statues which have been recently restored.