The strategic position of Amiens makes it an attractive destination for a weekend or a few days, from Paris,
Lille or
Brussels. Amiens also benefits from the proximity of the
Baie de Somme, a tourist hotspot registered at the and labelled . Amiens has the label of
Towns and Lands of Art and History since 1992. Within this framework, the host of the heritage organises guided tours on themes intended for an audience of adults and children, with educational workshops. A signposted circuit allows an independent tour of the town, with information panels offering comment on places and notable buildings. Amiens has an , and an accessible and varied natural heritage, on which tourism is based. The main attractions are the cathedral, which is included in the world heritage of
UNESCO, the
hortillonnages, , the
Tour Perret, the
Musée de Picardie, the , and the Saint-Leu and Saint-Maurice neighborhoods.
Places and monuments The commune has an exceptional heritage: 60 monuments listed in the
inventory of monuments historiques and over 1600 places and monuments listed in the
general inventory of cultural heritage; and on the other hand, 187 objects listed in the inventory of monuments historiques and 254 objects listed in the general inventory of cultural heritage. The information given below is relative only to a brief selection.
Notre-Dame d'Amiens {{Translated blockquote The city is famous for its Notre-Dame Cathedral, masterpiece of
Gothic art and one of the largest cathedrals in the world by its interior volume (). The largest religious and medieval building of France, its interior could twice hold
Notre-Dame de Paris. The cathedral measures long and its spire rises high. The vaults of the central
nave, finished in 1247, are , close to the maximum limit for this architecture. Dating back to the 13th century, its construction is due to the wealth of the city in the Middle Ages and to the fire of the
Romanesque cathedral which stood previously. Three architects, including
Robert of Luzarches succeeded to complete the construction. Amiens Cathedral is notable for the coherence of its plan, the beauty of its three-tier interior elevation, the particularly fine display of sculptures on the principal façade and in the south transept, and inlays of its floor. It is also described by
John Ruskin as "Gothic, clear of Roman tradition and of Arabian taint, Gothic pure, authoritative, unsurpassable, and unaccusable." Regarded as the archetype of the classic
Gothic style, the cathedral also presents some elements of the radiant Gothic style and flamboyant Gothic. The speed of construction, barely 70 years for the shell (1220 to 1269), explains this remarkable homogeneity of style. Its façade is decorated with more than 3,000 statues, gargoyles and chimeras. Registered since 1981 as a
World Heritage Site of
UNESCO, it is a "masterpiece of world heritage". For a second time in 1998, it is a monumental step on the
Camino de Santiago. Despite the two World Wars of the 20th century, which severely affected the city, it managed to stay intact. A show of the reproduction of the original polychromy of façades, discovered as a result of recent
laser cleaning, is given annually for free in December and during the summer period. The show is a projection on the façade of slides in color. The is a set of reliefs on the foundations of the western façade formed series of quatrefoil medallions, carved in a representative agrarian calendar and the signs of the zodiac. The statue of the that is on a tomb carved by , and the reliefs evoking Saint-Firmin and St. John the Baptist, are some of the well-known works of the cathedral. At ground level lies the intact of long. On the north side of the cathedral is the former , occupied by the in Amiens. Cathédrale Notre-Dame d'Amiens.jpg|The cathedral seen from the
Rue André Amiens cathédrale (les 3 portails Ouest) 1.jpg|West entrance Amiens cathédrale4.JPG|Entrance Amiens Cathedral Interior 1.jpg|The labyrinth Amiens Cathedral choir Wikimedia Commons.jpg|The choir Stalles Cathédrale d'Amiens 280808 12.jpg|Columns Mausolée de Charles de Vitry Amiens 110608 3.jpg|Mausoleum of Charles de Vitry Tombeau du chanoine Lucas Amiens Ange pleureur130608 .jpg|Tomb of Canon Lucas
Belfry The origin of the dates back to the establishment of the commune of Amiens by
Louis VI. It is mentioned for the first time in an arbitral award issued by the chapter of Amiens in 1244. Symbolizing the independence of the commune, it was formerly used for meetings of the notables of the city and then as archive rooms, weapons store and prison. A spotter nearby monitored arrivals and warned the population of the external dangers. During the Middle Ages, the building was repeatedly engulfed by fire. The belfry is composed of a base in white cut stone, built in the 15th century between 1406 and 1410, a stone superstructure bell tower built from 1749 with Baroque
volutes at its base, and a dome covered with slate and then the
renowned arrow weather vane. At the time, a huge 11-ton bell was installed inside, it was later destroyed along with the dome, whose copper component melted, in the bombardment and fire of the city on 19 May 1940. Abandoned and devoid of a roof since
World War II, the monument was fully restored between February 1989 and July 1990. Located on the
Place au Fil, the old central square of the city before the arrival of the railway and the rise of the
Rue des Trois Calloux, the belfry is adjacent to
Les Halles and the back of the
Hôtel de Ville (city hall). At a height of , it rings every hour of the day. Since July 2005, the belfry of Amiens is a
UNESCO World Heritage Site, as part of a set of 56
Belfries of Belgium and France which were inscribed because of their architecture and their importance in the rise of municipal power in Northern France and Belgium. The belfry is also recorded in the inventory of Historic Monuments.
Cirque Jules-Verne In 1845, the traditional fair of Saint-Jean, formerly held at
Place René Goblet, was transferred to
Place Longueville. It is a wide esplanade that took the place of the Longueville bastion, after the demolition of the city walls in the early 19th century. Each year, a temporary circus is established for this occasion. In 1865, a circus company emerged to claim a permanent circus, which would be built in wood by the Schytte contractor in 1874. However, expensive maintenance prompted the municipality to consider the construction of a new building. The decision was made in 1886 under the leadership of Mayor
Frédéric Petit and the work began. The Chief Architect of the Somme, , a disciple of
Gustave Eiffel, was responsible for its construction. It was inspired by the
Cirque d'hiver of Paris but with a cast metal frame, supplemented by brick from the local countryside. The architect of civil buildings,
Charles Garnier, claimed that the frames should be hidden with a plaster imitating stone. The "moderninst" design of Ricquier, who chose to display the structure, and to favor local material such as brick, is visible at the rear of the monument. With its 16-sided polygonal shape and a diameter of , it includes lodges and
stalls in its enclosure. As a completely modern project, it hosted two steam engines, dedicated to fully electric lights and central heating. Since its construction, it was also the first circus which included a buffet and a refreshment bar. The cost of the construction of the building finally reached double the forecast. In 1888, the new city councilor responsible for festivals and celebrations, Jules Verne, was responsible for monitoring the work, and it was he who opened it on Sunday 23 June 1889, for the opening of the fair and the centenary of the French Revolution: The roof was damaged by a shell in 1916. The circus was the setting for
Federico Fellini's
The Clowns (1971), and the film by
Jean-Jacques Beineix,
Roselyne and the Lions (1989), with
Isabelle Pasco as lead actress. The largest of the circuses of the province with its 3,000-seats, the building has acquired a multidisciplinary use for decades of performances of theatre, dance, concerts, galas, sports and public meetings. Renovated in 2003, it now bears the name of . After hosting the performances of , it hosts resident . Since 1 January 2011, the circus has been labelled "national hub circus and street arts", managed by an . It is one of seven in France and is still in use today.
The house of Jules-Verne In 1882, Jules Verne and his wife, Honorine, rented at the corner of
Rue Charles-Dubois and
Boulevard Longueville until 1900. Acquired in 1980 by the city, the house is labeled
Maisons des Illustres by the
Ministry of Culture. Restored in 2006, thanks to the work of the , this 19th-century mansion, registered as a
national heritage site, traces through the exhibition of more than 700 objects, the personality, the sources of inspiration and memories of Jules Verne.
Tour Perret Opposite the
Gare d'Amiens, is located the
Tour Perret (from the name of its architect
Auguste Perret). Over high, it was one of the first skyscrapers built in Europe, and the highest for a long time.
The Church of Saint-Leu The was built at the end of the 15th century, on the model of the hall-churches. It is dedicated, as its district, to Saint Leu, referring to the 7th century bishop who was exiled to the
Vimeu. It has three naves. A flamboyant portal adorns the base of the steeple. The latter, struck by lightning, had to be rebuilt at the beginning of the 16th century. The ends of beams are carved. Stone and wood statues date from the 17th century. The choir houses the
glory of the
Duthoit brothers.
Other notable buildings or monuments Architecture from antiquity • Numerous archaeological excavations have uncovered remains from proto-historic times to the Roman era. Two skylights cut in the last development of
Place Gambetta, allow observation of a few remains of the
forum. And, important remnants of a large Gallo-Roman theatre uncovered in early 2007, have been dismantled and stored in accordance with the rules of archaeological conservation, during the redevelopment of the Gare neighborhood in March 2007. • The testifies to the presence of Paleolithic man in the Somme Valley some 450,000 years ago. A stratigraphic cut, classified as an historic monument since 1947, allows visualisation of successive strata of the Somme Valley.
Architecture from the Middle Ages • The is disused, but where exhibitions are regularly held on the colourisation of the cathedral and the St-Germain neighborhood, and historical competitor of the Saint-Leu neighborhood. The animosity, between the populations of the two districts has marked the history of Amiens. This church has a high and oddly leaning tower. Affected by the bombing of 1940, it was returned temporarily to worship in October 1965, after a thorough restoration. • The remains of the Hôtel-Dieu (Saint-Leu district, between the and the Faculty of Sciences), • The mills
Passe avant and
Passe arrière (at Saint-Leu).
Architecture from the Renaissance • The renaissance façade of the Maison du Sagittaire (moved to adjoin the Logis du Roy). • The Logis du Roy (Faculty of Arts until 2003). • The House of the Bailiwick or Malmaison. • The Citadelle: First
ravelin, erected north of the Montrescu gate, the fortress was located in 1531 by F. di Giorgio on the order of
Francis I (Francis I gate, with sculpted salamanders). After the capture by the Spaniards and its takeover by Henry IV (1597),
Jean Errard received the charge to rebuild the defences of the city. 611 - Logis du Roi et maison du Sagittaire - Amiens.jpg|The
Logis du Roy and the
Maison du Sagittaire. Amiens - Maison du Bailliage (1).jpg|The
Maison du bailliage ou Malmaison, former residence of the
bailli of Amiens, constructed in 1541. Amiens - Citadelle (6).jpg|Gate of the Ravelin of Montrescu constructed from 1524 to 1531.
Architecture from the 17th and 18th centuries • (cloister Dewailly) •
Abbey of Saint-Acheul (17th and 18th centuries) and the Church (built in 1760 on the vault of
Fermin of Amiens) • The water tower and fountains of Amiens (1753) • The façade of the former theatre (now a bank). It was moved to the line of the
Rue des Trois-Cailloux. • The façade of the (currently an apartment building) • The of the 17th and 18th centuries. • The
Seminary of the
Lazarists: located on
Rue Jules-Barni, it was built between 1736 and 1741 and benefitted from several extensions of which the last was built under the aegis of in 1828. Seized by the , following the
Act of 1905, the seminary was the
barracks office (named after the general assigned to the Committee of fortifications,
Pierre Charles Dejean) from 1909 to 1993. During this period, it housed the headquarters of the
8th infantry division. • The
Hôtel de Ville (city hall) (partly 18th century and partly 19th century). Made in the regional style of stone and brick, with bedrock of sandstone, and stone pavilions. On the pediment is found the statues of King
Louis VI and Bishop Geoffroi, which granted freedom to Amiens in 1115. Amiens - Hotel de Ville de nuit.jpg|The Hôtel de Ville (city hall) Amiens - Caserne Stengel (2).jpg|The former Stengel barracks converted into apartments (18th century, historic monuments, 1992). Amiens, façade de l'ancien théâtre (3).JPG|Façade of the former theatre of Amiens, bank
Rue des Trois-Cailloux. Amiens, 6 r St-Jacques (1).jpg|Fountain of
Rue Saint-Jacques. Amiens - Couvent des Sœurs grises (5).JPG|Convent of the grey sisters (18th century, historic monuments, 1992). Amiens - Abbaye Saint-Jean-des-Prémontrés (2).jpg| (18th century, historic monuments, 1992). Amiens - Hôtel Blin de Bourdon (1).jpg|Hôtel Blin de Bourdon (18th century: 1
Rue des Augustins, historic monuments, 1993). Amiens - Maison Cozette.JPG|Maison Cozette (18th century) : 26
Place Vogel (historic monuments, 1992). Amiens, hôtel de préfecture (4).JPG|Hôtel de la Préfecture (18th and 19th centuries, historic monuments, 1992).
Architecture from the 19th century • The Palace of Justice was built from 1865 to 1880 on the site of the Abbey of Saint-Martin-les-Jumeaux (1073 to 1634) established at the supposed place of the sharing of the cloak of Saint Martin and the convent of the religious Order of the
Celestines (1634 to 1781). Les Célestins, whose order was abolished in 1778, left the premises in 1881. • Henriville neighborhood, including the hotel Acloque (neo-Louis XIII style) and the Saint-Martin Church (
neo-Gothic, built by
Louis Antoine in 1874). • The , which was reopened after renovation, in 2006, including the present neo-Gothic dining room and antique desk. The tower was covered with an armillary sphere commissioned from artist
François Schuiten, who also signed the mural extending the imaginary garden of yesteryear. • The (Madeleine Cemetery) contains a number of listed monuments including the sculpture on
Jules Verne's Tomb. His tomb is decorated with a sculpture by
Albert Roze symbolising the resurrection: Jules Verne lifting the slab to glimpse the modern world. • where various Amiens personalities are buried and where there is a domed tomb with a sculpture by
Auguste Rodin. • The Dewailly clock, by (completely redone in 1999), supplemented by the statue of
Marie-sans chemise of Albert Roze, originally in the
Place Gambetta. • The former insurance house,
Rue Marotte, built by E. Ricquier in 1893 (now a bar). • The ,
Rue de la République, built by in 1823, neoclassical style with a peristyle with columns in
Tuscan drums. • The monastery of the visitation, built between 1839 and 1841 by Herbault. • The Palace of Justice, new buildings constructed by Cheussey in 1834 and 1846. • The renovations by Cheussey (1816–1848) of the cathedral. • Place Saint-Denis (now place René Goblet) is designed in 1839 by the architect François Auguste Cheussey. • The parish church Saint-Firmin-le-Martyr by Cheussey in 1843. • The of the architect . • The of architect . P7210050 Palais de justice Amiens.JPG|Palace of Justice (19th century, historic monuments). Amiens - Hôtel Acloque 1.jpg|Hôtel Acloque (19th century, historic monuments, 1999). Amiens Couvent-Visitation Facade-ouest 2010.JPG |The convent of the Visitation-Sainte-Marie (19th century, historic monuments).
Architecture from the 20th century • The hotel Bouctot-Vagniez (seat of the Regional Chamber of commerce and industry), built by Louis Duthoit in 1909, a rare
Art Nouveau building in Amiens. • The English neighborhood, located on the road from Longueau, including a British phone box. An island of London in the heart of Amiens. • The
ESIEE Amiens, designed by the architects Jean Dubus and Jean-Pierre Lott. A modern building identified by its saucer. • Complex of
Art Deco buildings on
Rue Cauvin, as well as the
Gueudet garages (
Rue des Otages). • Église Saint-Honoré, rebuilt between 1957 and 1961, by
Paul Tournon, on the plans of the pontifical pavilion of the in 1937. • The hotel Vagniez-Renon (current headquarters of the administrative tribunal): A former residence of Henriville, it houses a Moorish-style hydrotherapy room, designed by . • The Saint-Pierre church, destroyed in 1940 and rebuilt in 1949 by Evrard, in glass and concrete, with a brick bell tower. • : The headquarters of the daily life of Amiens, first
Progrès de la Somme, belongs to a set of
Art Deco buildings. • The monument of
Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque by
Jan and Joël Martel in 1950. • The Carmel of the Holy Spirit, on the Montjoie Hill, built in 1965 by architect . • The , inaugurated on 19 March 1966 by
André Malraux, built by . • The
Coliséum, inaugurated on 5 January 1996, built by the architect (designer of the
Palais omnisports de Paris-Bercy). • The
Stade de la Licorne, built in 1999 by architects and Jean-Paul Morel.
Architecture from the 21st century • The
Cinema Gaumont Amiens opened in 2005. It is the work of architects . The interior decoration is the work of
Christian Lacroix and artists Alain Balzac and François Michel. • The ''Verrière de la place de la
gare d'Amiens'', also called the
Canopy. It is the work of architect
Claude Vasconi, known especially for the
Forum des Halles in Paris. A subject of a controversy when it opened in March 2008, the canopy is designed to create a link between the
pedestrian zone of the city center and the ZAC Gare la Vallée, and to become a business district of Amiens. Criticised for its massive and imposing area of more than , the canopy rises to in height and is composed of pixellated glass panels created by . This is one of the largest canopies in Europe. • The
Zenith of Amiens by
Massimiliano Fuksas, in the Renancourt neighborhood between the Mégacité and the Hippodrome. Construction was completed in 2008.
Environmental heritage Amiens has of
green space (excluding communal woodland) of
hortillonnages, of forests, of marshland, in addition to its river and its streams. Floral City awarded the maximum score of 4 flowers in the
floral contest of cities and villages of France to Amiens, and it offers a particularly rich wooded heritage. With 38,650 trees (excluding woodland), of which 17,000 are situated on highways, Amiens to win the
national tree award. In 2014, the city ranked in the top 10 greenest cities of France. Presenting itself as a city concerned with the environment, Amiens has made the link between the city and nature a central axis of its metropolitan development project called
Amiens 2030.
The hortillonages Amiens is also known for the , gardens on small islands in over of marshland between the
River Somme and
River Avre, surrounded by a grid network of human-made canals (locally known as "rieux"). They are also known as the "floating gardens of Amiens". The
hortillonnages are sometimes called "Little Venice of the North", because of the canals.
Hortillon means
market garden in Picard, and derives from the Latin
hortillus, small garden. It is navigated in flat bottom boats, formerly called
barque à cornet [Cornet boat], due to the very raised front, which allows the boats to easily dock on the fragile shores of the cultivated fields. It is the upstream port, located at the foot of the cathedral, where a weekly market is held on the water, although the arrival the growers by boat can only be accomplished once a year, in summer.
Amiens Metropolitan Zoo Prior to its opening in May 1952, the is a green space bordering the basin of the . It was the mayor of the time, , who decided to develop the site in 1949. Originally intended as an entertainment venue, the zoo began its mission of conservation, education and research between 1970 and 1980. Between 1990 and 2000, the zoo was completely renovated and became a permanent member of the
European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) in 2001 and the (ANPZ) in 2002. Today, there are 300 animals, representing approximately 75 species from all continents, cohabiting on . They live in environments, which are close to their natural environment, favouring their well-being. In 2014, the zoo received 161,128 visitors. Traditionally, entry is free on 14 July,
Bastille Day. Maki vari roux Amiens.jpg|Red ruffed lemur
(Varecia rubra) Gibbon Amiens 26873.jpg|Lar gibbons
(Hylobates lar) Panda rouge Amiens 26871.jpg|Red panda
(Ailurus fulgens) Coati roux Amiens 1.jpg|South American coati
(Nasua nasua). Éléphants d'Asie au zoo d'Amiens.jpg|Jena and Praya, the two Asian elephants
(Elephas maximus). Otarie du zoo d'Amiens.jpg|California sea lion
(Zalophus californianus) Manchots Amiens 02.jpg|Humboldt penguins
(Spheniscus humboldti) The main parks and gardens As a floral city, 4 flowers were awarded in 2013 by the National Council of Cities and Villages of France for the
competition of floral cities and villages. The national Council of Cities and Villages awarded the
2012 National Tree Prize to the city for "its exceptional and innovative management of its wooded heritage" with its 37,000 trees, some more than a century old.
Cultural heritage Museums • The
Musée de Picardie is a key site in the history of the National Museum, since it is the first building to have been built in France to serve as a museum. Built under the Second Empire on the model of the new
Louvre of Napoleon III, it opened its doors to the public in 1867 after the visit of the emperor. Considered the French model of a 19th-century museum, it was nicknamed the "Little Louvre of the Province". It hosted very early rich collections which are now divided into four departments:
Archaeology in the basement, the
Medieval art on the ground floor, fine arts on the ground floor and the first floor, and
modern and
contemporary art on the first floor. Rooms are also devoted to temporary exhibitions. The department of fine arts brings together paintings by
Van Dyck,
Jordaens,
Ruysdael,
El Greco,
Ribera,
Tiepolo,
Guardi,
Fragonard,
Chardin,
Boucher,
Quentin de La Tour,
Vouet,
Corot and
Courbet. The modern and contemporary collection is represented by
Picasso,
Picabia,
Balthus,
Dubuffet,
Hélion,
Bacon,
Miró and
Manessier. Access to the picture galleries of the first floor is by a mounumental staircase in a setting dedicated to the famous wall compositions of
Pierre Puvis de Chavannes. • The
Hotel de Berny Museum is a regional museum of local art and history. This building, typical of the
Louis XIII architecture, was built in 1634 as a mansion of the treasurers of France. Property of
Gérard de Berny, Senator of the Somme in the first half of the 20th century, has restored the façades and settled its collections. Located a few metres from the cathedral, this
Museum of France retains an exceptional collection of woodwork, furniture and objets d'art (tapestries, ceramics, ironworks) and memories (objects and arrays) of Amiens personalities:
Jules Verne,
Choderlos de Laclos,
Édouard Branly,
Jean-Baptiste Gresset,
Vincent Voiture,
Joseph Pinchon,
Maréchal Leclerc. The museum is currently undergoing a complete renovation of its buildings and an overhaul of the installation of its museum collections. • The , labeled
Maisons des Illustres, is the home of the most translated writer in the world after Agatha Christie:
Jules Verne. He lived here from 1882 to 1900 with his wife Honorine, and wrote part of his work in this mansion of the 19th century. To visit is to enter into the intimate and creative universe of the author. The building largely retains its original decor and opens almost all of its rooms, from the ground floor to the attic. The permanent collections are presented on two floors, in the attic, the tower and the belvedere of the house: Approximately 700 collected objects evoke the personality, sources of inspiration and memories of Jules Verne. Costumed tours, performances, parties and literary encounters of thematic conferences are also regularly organised. • The Gallery of
stained glass is located in the workshop of master glassmaker Claude Barre, in a 16th-century house near to the cathedral. It presents a large collection to the public, including religious stained-glass windows and interiors, from the 11th to the 19th century. The gallery also offers demonstrations on the techniques of stained glass. • The (MCA or MACU) was inaugurated on 19 March 1966 by
André Malraux. A major in the region, it has two exhibition halls for
contemporary art; the Matisse Hall and the Giacometti Room, which both regularly host exhibitions of sculptures, photographs and plastic arts. • The
Fonds régional d'art contemporain of Picardie (FRAC Picardie), created in 1983, aims to promote contemporary art, in particular through dissemination actions. As early as 1985, FRAC Picardie had specialised its action in the field of the design and its contemporary dimensions. It is also interested in new media, on and off paper, since artists are now working through the video medium. This has allowed it to acquire a good reputation in France and abroad. In 30 years, the FRAC has brought together a unique collection of a thousand drawings which include major names of contemporary art, such as
Basquiat,
Dubuffet,
Oppenheim,
Twombly,
Matta, and
Manessier. In 2001, discussions are undertaken to construct a new building to accommodate the
fonds and its collections. Amiens was strongly tipped to host the
Louvre II.
Concert halls The city has a number of concert spaces, mostly small venues, and pubs also host numerous concerts throughout the year. • The
Zenith of Amiens was inaugurated in September 2008. With a capacity of 6,000 seats, it is the work of the Italian architect
Massimiliano Fuksas. Holder of the required
Zénith label, this facility allows the hosting of national and international headline acts and ensures a high level of services and organisation. The accessibility of the place by motorway (A16, A29, A1), and the possibilities of free parking, the venue radiates to Belgium and to the Paris region. • The is the Park of the Congress and Exhibitions of Amiens. Located in immediate proximity of the Zenith of Amiens and the
Stade de la Licorne, there are two auditoriums of 350 and 1,000 places where concerts and are programmed. • , the biggest grand circus of France, has about 1,700 seating spaces since its renovation in 2003. It welcomes, among other shows, concerts. • The offers many live shows and concerts. It manages also New Dreams, a room for 120 seated or 300 standing, which also hosts concerts. • The Auditorium Henri Dutilleux is the auditorium of the . With high acoustic quality, it offers 370 seats on three levels. It offers mainly classical concerts. • is the (SMAC) of the city. Created in 1987 in a former banana warehouse of the Belu Wharf, La Lune has a capacity of 250 seats.
Theaters • The has the accreditation from the
Ministry of Culture. Cultural place of the city, its mission is broad and covers many disciplines: theatre, music, dance, cinema and visual arts. It brings together two theatres: the
Grand Théâtre (1,070 seats) and the
Petit Théâtre (300 seats). • The (ComDePic) is one of the city's main theatres. This was founded in 1989 by the
Regional Council of Picardy and offers fifteen plays every year. The theatre has a room of 400 places and houses its own company. • The Maison du Théâtre was established in April 1988 in the historic neighborhood of . Its activities range from creation to dissemination, training and theatrical information. Focused on contemporary theatre, the
Maison du Théâtre also hosts local theatrical companies and their creations. • The puppet theatre "Chés cabotants of Amiens", founded in 1933, is the heir of some eighty cabotan theatres which were created in Amiens in the 19th century. Amiens is known as the French capital of the puppet son. Since 1997, a theatre is dedicated to
Chés Cabotans of Amiens and its popular hero Lafleur. It is located in the heart of the Saint-Leu neighborhood. • The Boîte à Rire is a
café-théâtre, created in September 2012. This 48-seat hall is located near to
Amiens Cathedral, and proudly displays a
one-man show and
Boulevard theatre.
Cultural Centers Amiens Métropole has nine cultural centers which cover much of the metropolitan area: six in various districts of Amiens, and three in the neighbouring communes of
Longueau,
Camon and
Glisy. These outreach facilities working in the field of art and creation are openly oriented "venues". Open to all, they offer an eclectic programme; theatre and concerts, shows for young people and dance, projections of films, exhibitions, meetings and debates. In 2013, they accommodated 48,000 people. • The
Briqueterie was installed in 2001 on the site of the former Friant military barracks in the Elbeuf neighborhood. As part of its programming, it hosts concerts, as well as exhibitions, public theatre and shows for youths. To this end, it has a room that can accommodate 120 people. • The
Jacques Tati cultural center is located in the heart of the Pierre Rollin. Opened in January 2008, the Jacques Tati theatre has 198 seats and hosts plays, public youth performances, and concerts. • The
Léo-Lagrange cultural center is located in Saint Germain district. A venue for exhibitions, meetings and performances of music, theatre, dance and circus, it has a room of 85 seats named the chapel. • The
CSC is installed in the heart of the Etouvie neighborhood. Its missions include the dissemination of exhibitions and performances. To this end, it has a room of 150 seats. • The
Étoile du sud is located in the neighbourhood Victorine-Autier. This cultural center is specialized in urban cultures and has the peculiarity of having a computer () recording studio. • The
Safran is located in the north neighborhood of Amiens. This 'multidisciplinary and experimental' offers diverse programming: Drama, public youth shows, dance and exhibitions. Its theatre hall, known as
Gérard-Philipe has 220 spaces. Saffron also hosts a music complex, the
Cité Carter, which offers rehearsal studios, recording sessions and organises concerts of contemporary music in its 250-seat hall.
Libraries The is a network of 28 facilities spread over the whole territory of the metropolis. The heart of this network is the Louis Aragon library, located on
Rue de la République. Built between 1823 and 1826, it is one of the oldest municipal libraries in France. It experienced several improvements, including campaigns of work between 1982 and 1993, which have endowed it with new spaces: Two auditoriums, a youth space, a library and an art library. Registration and borrowing is free for all of the people of Amiens in all libraries. Two libraries also provide service to neighborhoods and the communes of the agglomeration, and there is home delivery of documents for people with reduced mobility.
Cinemas There are three cinemas: • The
Cinema Gaumont Amiens (12 rooms, 2,700 seats) was inaugurated in September 2005. Located just steps from the
Amiens railway station, it has a large lobby and a 600-seat room. A 500-space car park is located under the cinema. It is the work of the architects and its interior decoration was entrusted to
Christian Lacroix. In 2011, this multiplex received 887,000 cinemagoers. • The
Cine-Saint-Leu (one room with 250 seats) was inaugurated in October 2000, after the closure of the Regent Cinema located near the railway station. An
arthouse cinema, it is part of the major cultural facilities of the Cathedral Centre. Its eclectic and cinephile programming offers the possibility to see the
original version of contemporary films. • The
Studio Orson Welles (one room with 180 seats in the ). An arthouse cinema operated by the , it offers arthouse films as well as retrospectives of great names of the seventh art, old or contemporary.
Cultural events and festivals Throughout the year, Amiens is the seat of many cultural, traditional or economic events. company during the 28th
Fête dans la ville in 2005. show of
Amiens, la cathédrale en couleurs. at the inauguration of the Christmas market in 2013.
Music Even if it rarely achieves national notoriety (with the notable exceptions of
Les Fatals Picards, ,
Olympe,
Albin de la Simone,
Disiz and
Rokia Traoré), the Amiens music scene is active and developed. In this dynamic, the scene holds a central place and is organised around a collective,
Amiens Burning, which is responsible for networking the breeding ground for the local rock scene, to accompany its projects, and organize concerts. Since their creation, and Cité Carter also provide support to the local scene. For example, the Cité Carter produces a compilation each year, with local groups. Highlights of the Amiens music scene: • Pop:
Olympe, Nathaniel Isaac Smog, • Hip Hop/Rap:
Disiz (born in Amiens), D.S.C. (Dirty South Crew), Lj Crackus • French singers:
Albin de la Simone (born in Amiens),
EmilieAnneCharlotte • World Music:
Rokia Traoré (Malian-born singer who lived in Amiens in the 1990s) • Multiple genres:
Les Fatals Picards, Zic Zazou (group of nine musicians created in 1982 and winner of La Grande Battle in November 2012) Classical music is represented by the and the University Orchestra of Picardy. Vocal practice is represented by the Regional Choir of Picardy, the University Choir of Picardie, and the Choir of France Picardy. One can also include the Harmony Saint-Pierre, a
fanfare of 70 musicians, which has become a local institution since its inception in 1894. The city has the , seat of strong musical activity (framed by 70 teachers, an administrative and technical team with an additional 20 people).
Literature Amiens saw rise, over the centuries, to major writers. In the first half of the 17th century,
Vincent Voiture, poet and letter writer, was the darling of the
Précieuses for the fluidity of his style. In 1634, he was member of the 1st
Académie française. In 1678,
Charles du Fresne, sieur du Cange, nicknamed "the French
Varro", published his
Glossarium in 3 volumes. This glossary of medieval Latin is still authoritative today. In 1750,
Jean Baptiste Gresset, a playwright and poet who was celebrated in his time and was a member of the
Académie française, founded the which is still active today. He was named perpetual president. In 1782, the Amiens native
Choderlos de Laclos published
Les Liaisons dangereuses where he staged a depraved nobility. Considered one of the masterpieces of 18th-century literature, the book has toured the world and is known as an
Oscar-winning film adaptation. In the 19th century, there was a brilliant literary life around the with historian
Albéric de Calonne and the
Yvert family. However, the great name of Amiens literary life is
Jules Verne. He animated all intellectual activity, giving balls and parties, while his wife held a famous
salon. He often attended the library of the industrial society, which subscribed to numerous scientific journals. A member of the Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts of Amiens from 8 March 1872, he was elected Director in 1875, and in 1881 and, on this occasion, he delivered several speeches of welcome, especially for one of his friends, Amiens cartoonist , who signed illustrations of with
Hetzel. Engaged in local life, he was Councillor of Amiens from 1888 to 1904. He was closely interested in the affairs of the city, wrote many reports on the theatre and brought its support to the construction of the . Amiens does appear explicitly in his novels but there are however characteristic elements of the city such as the cathedral and the river. This is the case, for example, for the imaginary city of Ragz in
Le secret de Wilhem Storitz. In the novel
Une fantaisie du docteur Ox, the inhabitants of the fictional town of Virgamen, the Virgamenois, refer directly to the Amiénois and their prudent nature. In 1875, he delivered before the Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts of Amiens a speech entitled "An ideal city: Amiens in the year 2000" where he portrays himself wandering in a forward-thinking city of Amiens. Since then, the city has built a tourist route from this text. He died in Amiens in 1905, and he deeply marked the town's footprint, so that today many places, monuments and events bear his name. He rests at where one can read on his tomb: ''Vers l'immortalité et l'éternelle jeunesse.'' [Towards immortality and eternal youth]. In 1885, Englishman
John Ruskin published the Bible of Amiens, which was translated into French, extensively annotated and prefaced, in 1904, by Marcel Proust. This book dedicated to
Notre-Dame d'Amiens was the opportunity for Proust to recall his admiration for the English author and the Cathedral of Amiens. In the second half of the 19th century, , , Associate Professor of philosophy and brilliant scholar translated Kant's work in French and thus enabled its dissemination in France. A native of Amiens,
Paul Bourget published
Le Disciple in 1889, a novel today considered his major work. He was elected, 5 years later, to the Académie française. Born in Sainte-Anne district in 1885,
Roland Dorgelès published in 1919. A masterpiece written from his notes taken at the
Front, the novel won the
Prix Femina the same year. Though capable of obtaining the
Prix Goncourt, it was beaten by by Marcel Proust, 6 votes against 4. A member of the
Académie Goncourt in 1929, he was elected president in 1954 until his death in 1973. In 1926, the Amiens native
Henri Deberly, won the Prix Goncourt with , a novel inspired by his home city.
Cinema Many films or scenes from films were shot in Amiens and its surroundings. • 1946:
Jéricho by
Henri Calef with
Nadine Alari,
Pierre Brasseur and
Jacques Charon • 1959:
Head Against the Wall, film of
Georges Franju, with
Pierre Brasseur and
Jean-Pierre Mocky • 1970:
The Clowns of
Federico Fellini around the • 1973:
La Rose de Fer of
Jean Rollin with
Françoise Pascal,
Hugues Quester and
Nathalie Perrey • 1976:
La Saga des Français: La Rumeur, film of
Michel Pamart and
Marcel Trillat • 1980:
La femme enfant, film of
Raphaële Billetdoux, with
Klaus Kinski • 1989:
Roselyne and the Lions of
Jean-Jacques Beineix, with
Isabelle Pasco filmed around Cirque Jules-Verne • 1991:
Walking a Tightrope of
Nico Papatakis, with
Michel Piccoli also filmed around Cirque Jules-Verne • 1994:
Sister My Sister of
Nancy Meckler with
Julie Walters and
Joely Richardson • 1997:
Arlette of
Claude Zidi, with
Josiane Balasko and
Christopher Lambert • 1999: ''
Je suis né d'une cigogne'', film of
Tony Gatlif, with
Romain Duris • 2000:
Elle et lui au 14e étage of , with
Guillaume Depardieu and
Benoît Magimel • 2000: of • 2002:
Carnage of
Delphine Gleize • 2002:
Paris selon Moussa, film of
Cheik Doukouré • 2008:
Paul Rondin est...Paul Rondin, short film of
Frédéric Vin, with • 2008:
Blanche, short film of
Eric Griffon du Bellay, with
Romane Bohringer and
Clémence Poésy • 2008:
Louise Hires a Contract Killer, film of
Gustave Kervern and
Benoît Delépine, with
Yolande Moreau and
Benoît Poelvoorde filmed around the
Tour Bleue (before its destruction), in the Étouvie neighborhood. • 2008:
Française, film of , with
Hafsia Herzi • 2009:
Ricky of
François Ozon with
Alexandra Lamy • 2010:
Copacabana, film of
Marc Fitoussi, with
Isabelle Huppert • 2012: , film of • 2013: , film of
Amélie Van Elmbt Comics Amiens is a stronghold of
comics in France. A whole generation of designers and Amiens writers make the city an important creative center of the
9th art. The main actors in this generation, include , who notably led the recolouring of the 33
Asterix albums in the framework of the project "The great collection" and also , , Fraco, , Greg Blondin, and Nicolas Hitori De. The city was also the birthplace or home of big names in the comic strip universe, such as the Amiens native
Joseph Pinchon, creator of the character of
Bécassine;
Paul Gillon, winner of the
Grand Prix de la ville d'Angoulême and also . Actor of this dynamic around the , the association
On a marché sur la bulle [Explorers on the bubble] organises the , one of the greatest French
comic book festivals. Active throughout the territory, the structure also manages a resource center and has an editorial department with the .
Regional culture • ''
Chés Cabotans d'Anmien
or the Cabotins of Amiens
is a small Picardy traditional puppet theatre founded in 1933. Lafleur, the hero, was created around 1811 at . He talks in Picard, exclusively. Traditionally a lackey costume (wearing a red velvet tricorne hat) dressed, Lafleur is cheerful, dynamic, independent and resourceful; its motto is: "bin mier, bin boere, pis did rin foere!"'' (Drink well, eat well and then do nothing). • The Picard language is recognised
regional language. It is spoken in France in the
Picardy and
Nord-Pas-de-Calais regions, and in Belgium in the Province of
Hainaut. Various associations work for the promotion and development of Picardy culture expressed in theatre, song, in spoken tales but also , notably in novels, journals, and poetry. Since 1993, the
Regional Council of Picardy has developed within the "Office Culturel Régional de Picardie" a cultural policy for the language and the Picardy culture. "The Agency for Picard", created in 2008, is headquartered in Amiens.
Picard is taught at the
University of Amiens. • The
blasons populaires are surnames or the nicknames given to the inhabitants of cities and the Picardy villages. These
surpitchets sometimes come from the history of the city, sometimes a verbal game, sometimes through a mockery of people. The nickname of the inhabitants of Amiens is: ''Chés Maqueus d'gueugues d'Anmien'' [Amiens nut eaters] in reference to an episode of the Spanish invasion. On 11 March 1597, the Spanish armies developed a ploy to seize the city: The soldiers of Hernán Tello de Portocarrero, Governor of
Doullens, disguised as peasants, came to the gates of the walls with nuts. The starving citizens of Amiens opened the doors and the Spaniards took the city.
Gastronomic specialities During December, the town hosts the largest
Christmas market in northern France. Amiens, in the image of the Picardy region, has a rich gastronomic heritage. Here are some of the specialities: Amiens is known for a few local foods, including "
macarons d'Amiens", small, round-shaped biscuit-type macaroons made from
almond paste, fruit and honey, which were first recorded in 1855; , chocolate and orange curved "
tuiles" or biscuits; – duck pâté in pastry, made since the 17th century; and "la
ficelle Picarde", an oven-baked cheese-topped
crêpe with ham and mushroom filling, then topped with fresh cream flavoured with nutmeg, white pepper, and sprinkled with grated cheese before being browned in the oven. The region is also known for "
flamiche aux poireaux", a puff pastry tart made with leeks and cream. Other dishes include: The
Summer Rambo apple cultivar originated near Amiens in the 16th century.
Notable people by , near to the cathedral. and his wife in 2013 in 2017 in June 2012
Sportspeople Linked to the city Heraldry, logo and motto ;Logo of the city of Amiens In 1991, the municipality formed around
Gilles de Robien designed a new logo, incorporating the Fleur-de-lis and the Ivy leaf present on the coat of arms, placed side by side in red with a background of grey or white, depending on usage. • A
stamp representing the arms of the city was issued in 1962, this issue fitted into one of the
Arms of cities. Its power of postage was five cents. It was issued on 23 January 1962 and withdrawn from sale on 23 January 1977. A
first day was arranged in Amiens on 21 July 1962. It was designed by . Artist
Arman made a board collage of this stamp. ==See also==