Built on the branches of the Somme, Amiens is a city of water. Les Hortillonnages ("marshes"), real floating gardens, is, with its parks and gardens, an outstanding natural space in the heart of the city.

The cathedral, resembling a great stone ship, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, is the largest gothic building ever built.

In the shadow of the cathedral stand the little houses of the mediaeval quarter of Saint-Leu, built on the edge of the water. Nowadays they accommodate bars, restaurants and workshops that are a delight to wander around.

Amiens is also the home city of Jules Verne. In the writer's footsteps, you can discover his house, the stone amphitheatre and the myriad buildings from the era, from the city library to the Picardy Museum.

A few kilometres west of Amiens, you must visit the archaeological centre and gardens of Samara.

A bit of history
The city was founded, in the first century AD, under the name of "Samarobriva", which means "a bridge over the Somme". It expanded very rapidly during the Gallo-Roman period: with a population of 20,000, covering 160 hectares, it became one of the largest towns in "Belgian Gaul". Remains of the Forum can still be seen in the centre of Amiens. The archaeological collections in the Picardy Museum also bear testimony to the grandeur of the Gallo-Roman town.

Two other great periods of prosperity have left their mark on the City's architecture:
• handicraft and commercial activity expanded in the XIIth and XIIIth centuries, mainly thanks to the waidiers, who exported woad, a plant used in dyeing, to the hanseatic cities. The brotherhood of waidiers contributed considerably, through its donations, to the building of the cathedral, from 1220 to 1288. In the Saint-Leu quarter, built on the branches of the Somme, mills and dyeing workshops were set up. The belfry remains a symbol of the municipal freedoms won very early on in Amiens.

• in the XIXth century, the manufacture of woollen cloth was replaced by the manufacture of velvet for furnishing and clothing, which made Amiens the world capital for velvet. The town expanded southwards and built large amenities: the building of the Picardy museum and the Law courts, the extension of the City Library, the building of the City Amphitheatre, inaugurated in 1889 by Jules Verne, an Amiens city councillor at the time.

During the last war, fires in the wake of the bombardments totally destroyed the city centre. To mark the rebuilding a large tower was built, designed by the architect Perret. The largest building in Europe when it was built, it remains a reference point for the city and is, with the train station and neighbouring buildings, also designed by Perret, a remarkable architectural ensemble.

Amiens today

The Amiens conurbation covers 19 communes (towns/villages) with a total population of 170,000. Amiens, the capital of Picardy, traditionally an industrial city, has become an important university centre.

The pedestrianisation of the heart of the city and the building, in the centre, of new university facilities, have profoundly changed Amiens since the 90s.

To discover
Amiens, city of art and history
The cathedral *****
It is remarkable both for its proportions and its wealth of statues. Most of it was built from 1220 to 1269, and it has a magnificent unity of style. Its interior volume of 200 000 m3 makes it the largest gothic church. Its spire is over 112 metres high. Its 110 oak stalls, from the early XVIth century, are outstanding.

The Picardy museum ****
It is one of the most beautiful provincial museums in France. In a wonderful Napoléon III-style palace, it displays archaeological collections, mediaeval collections, painting collections and a very fine set of XIXth century sculptures.

The Hôtel de Berny ***
It was built in 1634, of brick and stone, for the Trésoriers de France (direct tax collectors). Today it is the Museum of Local Art and Regional History, displaying some beautiful panelling and collections of Louis XV and Louis XVI furniture.

The Stained-glass Window Gallery **
Located in the Hôtel de Berny, it contains old stained-glass windows in some very beautiful XIIIth century vaulted cellars. On the first floor you can also see some modern stained-glass windows, from the end of the XIXth century to the present day.

Saint-Acheul archaeological garden**
Located in the south-east of the city, it takes you on a journey back in time. The Saint-Acheul site from the Lower Palaeolithic shows the archaeological cut where, at the end of the last century, they found bifaces, or flints, fashioned by men hunting deer or woolly rhinoceros more than 450,000 years ago on the banks of the Somme.

Barouches of Samarobriva
A guided tour in a barouche harnessed to 2 or 3 horses. Two routes are on offer, of around 30 minutes, departing from the square in front of the cathedral: Saint-Leu quarter and the city centre, and "In the footsteps of Jules Verne".
From 01/07 to 30/08, 3pm-6pm (except on Mondays). In May, June and September : on week-ends 3 pm-6 pm.
Adults : 5.50 € - Children (3-12) : 4 €.
Other times or on other sites, by prior appointment : Mr Dupont - 41 rue de Pierregot - 80260 Rainneville - Tel /Fax : +33 (0)3 22 93 79 28

The marionette tradition **
Amiens is also the capital of string puppets, called cabotan in Picardy dialect. The hero Lafleur is just as rebellious as his Lyonnais cousin Guignol. The Chés cabotans d’Amiens theatre presents modern and traditional plays in the Saint-Leu quarter***. As you walk around the quarter, you will see a statue of Lafleur in the place Aristide Briant . You can also take the opportunity to stroll between the little houses built on the riverside or admire the Passe-avant and Passe-arrière mills

Amiens, city of water and gardens
The hortillonnages ****
Amiens is a city of water, parks and gardens. Before it splits up into 9 branches in the Saint-Leu quarter, the Somme spreads out into numerous ponds and canals called rieux: covering 300 hectares, right in the heart of the city, the hortillonnages (marshes), which in the past were used only as market gardens, now also offer walking and boating areas.

Le parc Saint-Pierre **
It continues the marshes up to the Saint-Leu quarter.

Le Parc de la Hotoie *
To the west, designed in 1732 by a pupil of Le Nôtre (famous landscape gardener), it adjoins the zoological garden*.

Le "Jardin des Plantes"
Formerly called the Jardin du Roy (King's Garden), it is both a place for walking and the Municipal Parks Dept's plant cultivation centre.

The cimetière de la Madeleine **
This real English park houses the tombs of wealthy Amiens families and that of Jules Verne.

Walks in the surrounding area

The Samara archaeological centre ****
Between the Somme and the oppidum (Latin "town") of la Chaussée-Tirancourt, the Samara archaeological centre retraces the remarkable history of the valley over the last 600,000 years. Reconstructions of scenes from life and the environment, from the Paleolithic to the Gallo-Roman period, give you a better understanding of the daily life and skills of our ancestors. On display in the botanical garden are species most typical of the Somme valley.
In operation since 1999, a captive balloon offers you an outstanding view of the valley. When the weather is good you can even see the sea. Ponds, pastures and marshes make up a surprising patchwork of colours. The layout of the oppidum can be clearly observed with its natural barriers and its gate, which is situated in exactly the same place where the small road now starts its climb up the hill, to the east.

Le château de Picquigny **

L’Abbaye du Gard, 3 kilometres west of Picquigny, was founded in 1137. This Cistercian abbey counted Mazarin amongst its abbots. It was almost completely destroyed in 1790. Its main building dating from the XVIIIth century was restored in 1967 by the Frères Auxiliaires du Clergé who give guided tours of the Abbey.

Built in the XVIIIth century by the de Clermont-Tonnerre family, it is outstanding for its architectural harmony. The magnificent entrance gate is the work of Le Vivarais, a craftsman in iron from Corbie, who also made the choir gates in Amiens cathedral.

The underground town of Naours ***

It was used by the inhabitants of the plateau as a refuge in times of war and contains over 300 rooms. They are the largest muches (closed compartments) in Picardy.

Activities
Walks
The Topo Guide – AD RANDO 80 suggets many circular walks, including:
La Croix de Pierre – 2 1/2 hrs – 10 km
In the footsteps of Jules Verne – 2hrs – 6 km
The Liger loop – 2hrs – 8 km

• The marshes of Amiens, about a 1 1/2 hr stroll starting from Notre-Dame cathedral.
• Around Boves, 2 1/2 hr walk starting from the Paraclet agricultural college.
• Cottenchy and la Paraclet, 3 hr walk starting from Magneux wood (Cottenchy).
• Ailly-sur-Somme, 2 1/2 hr stroll starting from Breuilly church.

Cycling
Mountain bike hire
• Amiens Cycles – 4 rue de Paris – Tel: +33 (0)3 22 95 03 39 / Fax: +33 (0)3 22 95 05 13
Cycle and mountain bike hire

Canoeing and sea kayaking
Rivery Watersportscenter

Fishing
•pond: Loeilly; Boves; Breilly
•river: La Chaussée Tirancourt
•in the Somme

Golf
• Amiens Golfclub – Querrieu
• Salouël Golf club

Flying
• Amiens Flyingclub at Glisy : flying school
• Picardy Flyingclub at Glisy : power-driven flying, gliding, aerobatics, microlight

Road itineraries
The 3 valleys
Itinerary : Daours, Corbie(*), Heilly, Béhencourt, Bavelincourt(*), Contay(*), Herissart, Rubempré, Pierregot(*), Molliens au Bois, Beaucourt-sur-l’Hallue, Montigny-sur-l’Hallue, Fréchencourt(*), Saint-Gratien(*), Querrieu(*), Bussy-les-Daours
Detailed itinerary available on request from the Somme Tourist Board .

Practical info
Outings : Guided walks
Amiens has many guided walks on offer:

• visits to interesting buildings
• visits to a particular district
• themed visits, unusual visits or histoires d’un soir (traditional religious plays) done by actors, musical trips or rides in a carriage, day and night...

Programme available from the tourist office .

Tourist office
6, bis rue Dusevel
80010 AMIENS cedex 1
Tel : +33 (0)3 22 71 60 50 - Fax : +33 (0)3 22 71 60 51
E-mail : ot@amiens-metropole.com
Website : http://www.amiens.com/tourisme

Population of Amiens: 135,501 (figures from INSEE [French national institute for economic and statistical information] – 1999 census)