Amiens Cathedral: reviews and practical tips

+13
recos
4.5/5 4 reviews
Place Notre-Dame, 80000 Amiens, France
Place Notre-Dame, 80000 Amiens, France
Cathédrale d'Amiens

Visiting Amiens Cathedral

Amiens Cathedral, a jewel of French Gothic heritage, is a mandatory stop for anyone visiting the city of Amiens. As a UNESCO World Heritage site, this cathedral commands attention with its massive scale and architectural precision. Built during the 13th century, it remains the largest cathedral in France, capable of holding twice the volume of Notre-Dame in Paris.

Dazzling Architecture

Approaching the cathedral, the western facade immediately grabs your attention with its intricate sculptures and three heavily decorated portals. The central portal, dedicated to the Last Judgment, is particularly striking for its density of statues and reliefs. The two towers flanking the facade rise over 70 meters, providing a dominant silhouette over the city skyline.

Inside, the nave reaches a height of 42.30 meters, creating a sense of immense vertical space. The stained glass, the way natural light filters through, and the detailed rose windows contribute to a quiet, contemplative atmosphere. Do not miss the floor labyrinth, which was used by medieval pilgrims to represent their spiritual journey.

Historical and Artistic Treasures

The cathedral houses a significant collection of art and history. Among the highlights are the carved wooden choir stalls from the 16th century, which represent a high point of Flamboyant Gothic craftsmanship. The choir walls are lined with tapestries depicting scenes from the lives of Saint John the Baptist and the Virgin Mary.

During the summer months, be sure to catch Chroma. This evening light show projects colors onto the facade, recreating the original paint that once adorned the statues and offering a vivid look at how these masterpieces appeared during the Middle Ages.

Opening hours

Summer Hours (April through September): - Mon to Fri, 7:30 AM to 6:30 PM - Weekends, 7:30 AM to 7:30 PM Winter Hours (October through March): - Mon to Fri, 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM - Weekends, 7:30 AM to 6:30 PM
Hours are indicative and subject to change

Reviews of Amiens Cathedral

Add my review
Summary of 4 reviews
4.5/5
Average rating
+13
Total recommendations

Ratings by visit type

With family
3.8
As a couple
4.8
With friends
4.3

Avygeo ranking

#422
in the world
#343
in Europe
#188
in France
#1
in Amiens

Really huge

The Amiens Cathedral is one of the largest in France and even in Europe, and in my opinion, it is also one of the most beautiful. Its proportions are truly gigantic. When you walk in, you are impressed by the height of the nave. If you love Gothic architecture, I can only recommend that you go see this marvel.

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Imposing but a little worn down

Imposing cathedral, with a main facade covered in impressive statues and bas-reliefs. I do not know if it is intentional, but the 2 towers are not symmetrical, which I find detracts a bit from the harmony.
Inside, the dimensions are really huge and surprising. The size of the stained glass windows is also impressive, letting in quite a lot of light. But precisely because of that, many of the windows are no longer original, and the ones used to replace the old ones are basic or even ugly (it is like patching up a Ferrari body with duct tape). In the same vein, the vault shows cracks in several places and deserves a major restoration.
I would say that it is a superb monument whose maintenance has been neglected.

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Amiens Cathedral tower tour

Once you step through the door, you might get the feeling that the cathedral is pulling you inexorably into its depths. A flight of spiral stairs carries you up to the rose window.
Between its 36 feet of diameter towering over you and the view of the square below, you are not far from turning into a gargoyle yourself!
The climb continues and the cathedral releases you at 187 feet up.
360 degrees of photos on a clear day.
Finally, you tumble back down the 302 steps and the cathedral spits you out from behind the scenes.

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Deserves more recognition

A cathedral you don't hear much about, located in the center of a city you don't hear much about. To be honest, I wasn't expecting much, and I was surprised by the size of this building. It is super big, and when you go inside, there is really a lot of space. The details of the decoration, the portals, and the stained glass windows are also full of finesse.
A monument to see.

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