Amiens
An extraordinary cathedral,
huge and luminous
Notre-Dame d’Amiens cathedral
- 68 years of work
- 307 steps to the North Tower
- 750statues outdoors
“A lace of stone
says John Ruskin
This is how John Ruskin, author of The Amiens Bible, described the western façade of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Amiens.
The statuary is exceptional, with over 700 statues to contemplate outside. Every character, every chimera, every quatrefoil has its place and tells a story.
It’s also the largest cathedral ever built, with a surface area of 7,700 m² and a volume of 200,000 m³. It can hold 2 times Notre-Dame de Paris (!)
Chroma
A monumental show!
Every year, Amiens’ Notre-Dame Cathedral is decked out in new colors (!)
Since 1999, every summer and at Christmas, the Cathedral has been decked out in its finest finery for a majestic, colorful 50-minute show.
Discover the “Chroma” show from July 14 to September 22 , and at the end of the year from December1 to 31, 2024. Join us on the cathedral forecourt for a feast for the eyes!
This show is a production by Spectre Lab, which has enlisted the scientific expertise of Michel Pastoureau, historian of color symbolism, for the new polychrome rendering.
The Start-Rec agency, founded by Alex Jaffray, composer, sound designer and music columnist on France 2’s famous Télématin program, has orchestrated the soundtrack for a new show in 2023.
Find out more about the show’s design
The “Chroma” night show
Meet us every day in front of the Cathedral
From July 14 to September 22, 2024 and from December1 to 31, 2024
Opening hours :
from 10:30 to 11:20 p.m. from July 14 to 31
from 10.00 pm to 10.50 pm from August1st to 31st
9:45pm to 10:35pm from September1 to 22
from 7.00 p.m. to 7.50 p.m. from December1st to 31st
Duration: 50 minutes
(20mn show + 30mn illumination)
FREE
It’s an explosion of color, a feast for the eyes and ears!
The brightest of them all
(and also the largest!)
This sumptuous 13th-century construction, the work of the great builders of the Middle Ages, was built in record time (for the time!). In fact, the structural work took (only) 68 years to complete.
This classical Gothic jewel combines all the construction criteria of the period: the flying buttresses and the ribbed crossing, which bathe the Cathedral in light. In autumn, the soft light of the setting sun shines through the many stained glass windows and spreads 1,000 colors across the cathedral floor. At the end of the day, the facade is bathed in a shimmering golden light.
The central labyrinth, 234 meters long, is exceptional for its octagonal shape and its central stone, which honors its builders: founding bishop Evrard de Fouilloy and the three master builders. Climb the 307 steps to the north tower. Once you’ve reached the top, you won’t regret the effort (!).
Meet
Emilie
Tour guide
“My secret refuge in the Cathedral? Strolling beneath the flying buttresses suspends time and space; it’s a place where I can recharge my batteries, nourished by the beauty of the monument and the boldness of the men who built it, and reminded of the humility of my mission to pass on history in the light of this great Lady’s soon-to-be 8 centuries of existence.”
Who to contact
Amiens Métropole Tourist Office
23, place Notre-Dame
Tél 03 22 71 60 50www.amiens-tourisme.com
Center des Monuments Nationaux
Tours de la cathédrale Notre-Dame d’Amiens
30, place Notre-Dame
Tel. 03 22 80 03 41 or 03 22 92 03 32
www.cathedrale-amiens.fr
5 ways
discover the cathedral
- Visit
Amiens Cathedral is open all year round. Access is free.
- Audio-guided tour
Information from Amiens Tourist Office
Duration 1h
Price: €4 – children €2.50 - With a tour guide
Info from Amiens Tourist Office
Duration 1h30
Price: 6€ – children 3 - Climbing the towers
Stunning! Panoramic view of the whole of Amiens and the spire rising to over 112m.
Prior booking required with Monuments de France
Duration 1h
Price: €6.50 - Discover the Cathedral Treasure
Like all cathedrals, Amiens has a treasure! Disappeared during the French Revolution, it has been restored over the years.
Information from Monuments de France
Price: €3.50
Where to stay in Amiens?
Hotels, Gites, Bed & Breakfast
Hotels Amiens
- Gites and bed and breakfast
