Donation square

On your right is one of the liveliest and most festive squares in Amiens. This is Place du Don, home to several buzzing bars and restaurants. From here, you get a fantastic view of the cathedral and its spire, which rises to an impressive height of 112 metres. Take a good look — it’s not the original spire. That one was destroyed in a fire caused by a violent storm in 1528. It collapsed, but luckily, the fire was brought under control before it could spread to the rest of the roof. The spire you see today was built to replace it in 1533. It’s made of oak wood and covered in lead, and is said to weigh around 500 tonnes. Its decorative detail is remarkable — look closely and you’ll spot finely carved figures, along with gargoyles and chimeras. It’s one of the many masterpieces that make up the cathedral. Now, look around the square, on the façades of the surrounding buildings, you’ll see two statues of people looking back at you. They’re known as “The Woman in the Green Dress and The Man in the Red Shirt”. These sculptures are part of a trio created by Stephan Balkenhol, one of Germany’s most renowned contemporary sculptors. The third figure is just behind you, floating on the water — he’s called “The Man on the Buoy”. All three were created in 1993. Two of them have been recently restored, while the Man on the Buoy was replaced with a new version. The original statue is now on display at the city museum. So if you’re looking for a place to grab a bite or enjoy a drink later on, there’s a good chance you’ll find just what you’re looking for right here in this square.