Champagne Country Attractions
Amiens © Pingu1963 - on holiday in Bretagne
Amiens
Amiens is the ancient capital of Picardy and lies on the River
Somme, 75 miles (121km) north of Paris and 65 miles (105km) south
of Calais. Walking around the maze of narrow streets, divided by
canals, visitors will feel that this is a city past its prime,
nevertheless there are a couple of sites worth exploring. The
city's centrepiece is the Gothic cathedral, built between 1220 and
1270, and is one of France's finest. The interior contains
wonderful examples of medieval masonry and woodwork; 126 slender
pillars hold up the vast structure and the stalls are decorated
with thousands of carved figures. Like most great churches it has
been added to and restored over the centuries. The nearby
Musée de Picardie displays the history and art of the region
from prehistoric times through to the present day, along with
exhibits from the Roman, Greek and Egyptian empires. The art
collection includes European paintings and sculptures from the 16th
century including works by El Greco, Fragonard, Guardi, and
Tiepolo.
