Top 6 activities in Amiens
What’s more, the capital of Picardy and the surrounding area never miss an opportunity to take you back in time! From the forecourt of its prodigious Gothic cathedral, the medieval canals of the hortillonnages, the many relics of the Great War and the eclectic range of museums. Despite all this, the activities in Amiens are discreet. The locals themselves seem to be caught up in a routine of entertainment, almost shunning the emblematic places that surround them.
Despite the capricious weather most of the year, many of Amiens’ activities are geared towards the outdoors. It’s a real paradox, because the daily lives (and moods) of the people of Amiens are completely dictated by the weather! However, armed with unfailing enthusiasm, you’ll be ready to take advantage of the best activities in Amiens.
What to do in Amiens? 6 ideas for activities
Visits to historic buildings, monuments and sites will take up most of the time of heritage lovers. At least, the most passionate will have plenty to get their teeth into! Notre-Dame d’Amiens cathedral naturally tops the list of must-sees. Listed as a World Heritage Site, it is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world! Its interior, twice the size of Notre-Dame in Paris, imposes a stunned silence on anyone who walks through its doors. You’ll find it exhilarating.
1. Sailing through the Hortillonnages of Amiens
Category: €€ / Unusual / Cultural
Description: The hortillonnages are a labyrinth of greenery and culture right in the heart of Amiens! Spread over 300 hectares of former marshland, the vegetation straddles both the east of Amiens and the surrounding communes. The hortillonnages are a window on the heyday of market gardening in Amiens in the Middle Ages. At that time, harvests were prolific, particularly that of the Waide, a unique flower used to dye fabric. Amiens blue” ensured the city’s wealth and the construction of its famous cathedral. A visit to the Amiens hortillonnages is like taking a 1 to 2-hour cruise through a floating vegetable garden. Discovering the exuberant flora and fauna of this area is an activity that is sure to delight young and old alike!
2. Remember the Great War at the Somme 1916 Museum
photo credit Pixabay
Category: €€ / Sensations / Cultural
Description: In the commune of Albert, half an hour from Amiens, you’ll find the 1916 Commemorative Museum. This place, which is both playful and blatantly true, is a gateway to the First World War and the terrible “Battle of the Somme”. With the battlefields as your starting point, you can explore the remains of the fighting and the memorials erected in memory of the soldiers who died or went missing. A range of different tours are available to immerse you in this world, depending on what you want to do and the weather at the time.
3. Enter the mysterious Underground City of Naours
photo credit Wikimedia
Category : €€ / Unusual / Cultural
Description : Enter the bowels of the Naours chalk quarries to explore an authentic underground city! These refuge corridors, ingeniously dug out in the Middle Ages, served as shelters for the inhabitants in the event of war or invasion. Wind your way through this artificial feat, rediscovered in 1887. The history of this remarkable Picardy hideout promises to be fascinating! The visit includes a tour of the underground passage, the Museum of Old Trades and the new interpretation centre “Les Soldats voyageurs”.
Good to know: The “Grottes de Naours” don’t just refer to an underground passage! With the family or just to enjoy nature, you can spend the afternoon in the large park that surrounds the site. The playgrounds will delight the youngest visitors, as will the animals – including farm animals – that roam freely in the park.
4. Discover Samara, the cradle of archaeology
Category: €€ / Unusual / Cultural
Description: Samara Park is located in the heart of the Somme Valley, near Amiens. Famous for its prehistoric reconstructions, its outdoor activities and its key role in the birth of prehistory… And that’s not all!
Samara has an exceptional archaeological heritage, wonderfully presented and explained to visitors of all ages. At Samara, you can experience the constant interaction between man and nature over thousands of years. You can also take full advantage of some thirty hectares of unspoilt flora and fauna: perfect when the sun comes out!
Good to know: On the Samara website, you can find out all you need to know about Picardy peat and how it is exploited. From the origin of this blackish, fragrant earth to its use, via the extraction pits: you’ll soon know everything there is to know!
5. Take part in a refreshing beer tasting session
Category: €€ / Gastronomic
Description: A visit to Amiens often means enjoying a good local beer. Better still, for the most gourmet of travellers, a beer tasting is a must! This benchmark bar in Amiens offers an introduction to beerology during a 1.5-hour tasting session. Learn how to detect the multitude of flavours in the selection of beers, accompanied by a generous cheese and charcuterie board.
6. Visit the house of Jules Vernes
photo credit Unsplash
Category: €€ / Unusual / Cultural
Description: Jules Verne is a local celebrity, known the world over for his cult works such as “Journey to the Centre of the Earth” and “Mysterious Island”. Since his death in 1905, Jules Verne has continued to inspire readers from the privacy of his home in Amiens. Now open to the public, this home “like no other” retraces the steps of this famous local writer. Within these remarkably well-preserved walls, you can delve deep into the cradle of his fantastic literary universe.
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