Today, I’m taking you with me to Amiens, a city I visited during the 15th of August weekend, on a whim. I must admit that when my SO told me “On our way back from the Touquet, we could stop in Amiens, it’d be a break from the road, what do you think?” I was not convinced.

 

A surprising destination

There are places you vaguely hear about and of which you have a rather indefinite and unflattering idea.

Amiens was on that list for me. I wasn’t sure you could tell your loved one “Honey, I know it’s been on your wish list for so long, this weekend, let’s head to Amiens!” Now I’m sure it’s something you actually CAN do.

 

The Saint-Leu area

The charm of this city in the Picardy province resides in the banks of the Somme that runs through the city, lined with pretty colorful houses. I found some to almost have a scandinavian feel to them.

This is a rather touristy area, and perfect for a stroll and food, with a number of bars and restaurants you can choose from. I imagine it’s the most animated place in Amiens (but maybe I’m wrong = as you can see, I’m an expert tourist guide).

 

The Amiens Notre-Dame Cathedral

I had heard of the cathedral (again, in a very vague way), but I didn’t know it was actually classified as a UNESCO world heritage. And now I can see why.

And if I want to bring everything back to Paris (haha, isn’t it annoying? Especially since I’m an “adopted” parisian), Amiens’ Notre-Dame is twice as big as the one in Paris. Impressive, right?

At nightfall, there is a whole lighting effect on the facade, but we were too busy eating (at Les Marissons restaurant (Rue de la Dodane), that I recommend both for the service, the atmosphere (= the terrace) and the food), and didn’t leave in time for the night show. Next time!

 

The Hortillonnages

Amiens little jewel is its “hortillonnages”: floating gardens, most of them inhabited, in a labyrinth of canals.

You can visit them in a boat with a guide, but I also saw people rowing on their own, so I’m guessing you can get your own boat.

As for us, we didn’t get too adventurous: we opted for the 45 minute guided boat ride, in a blooming and very relaxing decor.

We also walked alongside the canals, as little footpaths are arranged for those that might not have “river legs”.

So here’s a (non-extensive) summary of a day spent in Amiens : we didn’t get around to the museums (the Jules Vernes house is on our list for next time) or the Saint-Pierre park (we just passed by it), but it’s 2h from Paris by car (or 1h30 by train), so it’s totally doable in a nearby future! (English translation by Bleu Marine)