France: Stopover in Amiens

On our way from Lille to Normandy, we checked off the UNESCO Amiens Cathedral. We only had time for a stopover of a few hours. The Holiday Inn nextdoor to the station stores bags for 6 euros a piece, steep - I later realized from nannybag, that's the standard rate nowadays - but super convenient. We did the tourist-office-provided DIY walking tour in the rain. And noted that the Sunday antiques flea market seemed to be having very brisk business despite the rain.

I now realized that Amiens Cathedral has been on the UNESCO list since 1981 because 1) It was spared from two world wars and other calamities and most of the building is still from the 13th century 2) Construction was completed in a remarkably short time (less than100 years) in the 13th century, so the design was pure, no hodgepodge remodeling.

In addition to its famous Cathedral, Amiens has lots of canals and bridges lined with buildings: houses, old factories and mills, tourist cafes, and more.










Jules Verne was born in Amiens and this university bears his name.


Amiens Cathedral (Basilique Cathédrale Notre-Dame d'Amiens).






The cathedral had some elaborate wooden choir screens from the 1500's . One tells the story of John the Baptist in graphic detail. The purported head of John the Baptist is kept in the Treasury.


Another choir screen tells the story of St Fermin, also in graphic detail.


Saint Sebastian high above the altar.


There is a labyrinth on the floor that pilgrims follow on their knees on certain days.


Final photo of the cathedral as we leave dreary Amiens in the rain to catch the train to Rouen.


So long Amiens!