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Classified as a World Heritage
site by UNESCO
Notre-Dame in Amiens
is the largest cathedral
in France
and is the perfect illustration
of the purest Gothic art
For
a virtual visit: University of Columbia site
Introduction
Founded in 1220 by Evrard de Fouilloy and built according
to Robert de Luzarches’s plans, the majestic Amiens Notre
Dame cathedral, the perfect illustration of the purest Gothic
art, demands superlatives.
 It
achieves a rare homogeneity of style thanks to the speed of
its construction – less than a century – and presents
a view of the 3000 statues of its main doorway. The statuary
and the stalls are two jewels of this cathedral of light whose
proportions are impressive.
It is the largest in France, with a volume of 200,000 sq.
m., i.e. twice that of Notre Dame in Paris. It extends over
a length of 145 m. covering a surface area of 7,700 sq. m.
with a height of the nave under the vault of over 42m. Its
spire – the oldest made of lead covered wood – reaches
a height of 112 m. and rises 56m. above the roof top.
 The
west door is famous for the “Beau-Dieu” of the central
pillar, surmounted by Christ and a resurrection of the dead.
The 110 stalls of the choir represent the most beautiful example
of wood sculpture existing in France. Used as seats for the
canons, it took no less than fourteen years for the chest
makers and figurine carvers of Amiens to complete the 4,000
figurines which enliven this veritable wooden Bible. The labyrinth
of the paving, 234 m. long, was formerly used as an initiation
path for believers.
Many successive restorations, begun in the 15th century,
have enabled the cathedral to endure the centuries without
too much damage. In 1849, Viollet-Le-Duc set about the restoration
of the west façade of the cathedral. In 1993, cleaning
using a laser technique – a first – was begun and
was due to be completed in 2000.
In 1981, UNESCO classified it as a World Heritage Site.
History of
the Monument
1206: On his return from the Fourth Crusade, Wallon de Sarton,
canon of Picquigny brought back from Constantinople the head
of St, John the Baptist and gave it to his bishop, Richard
de Gerberoy. Amiens, lying at the junction of roads between
Canterbury, Cologne, Aachen, Santiago de Compostela, Rome
and Jerusalem, then became a place of pilgrimage.
About 1218: The old Romanesque cathedral dating from 1137
was burnt down; rebuilding it had to be considered.
Now, the textile industry was prosperous and the dyers founded
their fortune on “woad”, a local plant from which
was extracted Amiens blue, a very sought-after colour for
dyeing cloth. Thanks to this prosperity and the bishop’s
and canons’ money a new monument fit for the relics of
St John the Baptist was constructed.
1220: Start of the foundation work, which would reach a maximum
depth of 8 metres.
1236: The main hospital vacated the site in order to leave
the space completely free for the work. The nave was practically
completed.
1258: Fire in the scaffolding and the roof structure of the
choir above the radiating chapels.
1269: The main work of the cathedral was completed.
1288: Laying of the paving
1290 –1375: Construction of the side chapels of the
nave.
1366-1402: Crowning of the south tower then the north tower.
1528: Spire burnt down.
1529-1533: Construction of the present-day spire. It is the
oldest wooden cathedral spire, covered in lead sheet, in France.
It reaches a height of 112.7 metres.
This work was led by three successive project mangers. The
plan of the building should probably be attributed to Robert
de Luzarches. He raised the side wall of the nave to the vaults
as well as the porches of the west front. Thomas de Cormont
continued the work by adding the ambulatory and its radiating
chapels, then the upper parts of the nave to which he added
the vault. The style of his son, Renaud de Cormont, is seen
to be different. This master mounted the superstructures of
the choir and of the apse, and threw the vaults of the cross
and of the eastern parts 42 metres.
Practical info
Changing colours
of the main door of the cathedral
In the Middle Ages, the portals of the western facade of
Amiens' Notre-Dame Cathedral were painted with striking bright
colours. With the help of light projection, visitors can rediscover
the amazing original colours of the facade. This free show
can be seen outside in the cathedral square.
The changing colours of Notre Dame Cathedral in Amiens is
a free spectacle, every evening from June 15 to September
17 and from December 1st to January 1st. At nightfall, this light
show restores the mediæval colours of the monument.
Times: 10:45pm in June, 10:30pm in July, 10:00pm in August,
9:45pm in September, 7:00pm in December and january.
Information by the Amiens Métropole Tourist Office.
Cathedral Tours
Visits with or without guide every day, except Tuesdays and Sunday morning.
€3 per person
Because of restoration work, the tour route to the rose gallery
is limited. It may be closed as a safety measure at any time
(weather, building work, etc.). 307-step climb.
Cultural Service of the Cathedral :
Tel/Fax : +33 (0) 3 22 80 03 41
E-mail : cathedrale.amiens@wanadoo.fr
Visits
Unrestricted and free entrance, every day except
the last Sunday in September:
April 1 – Sept 30 : 8:30am – 6:30pm
Oct 1 - March 31 : 8:30am - 12:15pm & 2:00pm - 5:30pm
Guided cathedral visits (speakers/guides approved by the
Ministry of Culture) :
June 15 – Sept 14 : every day at 10:30am and 4.30pm
All year, Out of season, Sundays and French bank holidays
at 3:00pm
During school holidays : please check.
Adults : 5,50 €
Children : 3 €
Concessions: 4€
Audio-guide
Amiens
Métropole Tourist Office
6, bis rue Dusevel - BP 1018
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 : www.amiens.com/tourisme
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