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Beauvais is famous for its impressive cathedral but is also a town where there is plenty to do. From visiting one of the many historic monuments or museums, going out for a drink or a meal, looking for entertainment or shopping, Beauvais has it all. It is located south of Amiens and 41 miles north of Paris. It is on both the Autoroute du Nord and Route National 1June 2012See My Travel Page for more information.
The most important site to visit in Picardie is the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Amiens (pop.136K). The church is considered tobe the most ideal expression of the early Gothic style (benefitting from the imperfections arising in cathedrals of Beauvais, Chartres and Reims which preceded it). It is the largest Gothic Cathedral in France (in square and cubic areas), even thoug the cathedral in Beauvais is taller (48,2 m vs 42). Besides the church this city has a good Art Museum , local cuisine and is a nice town in which to wander (and it has a zoo).
The Cathedral stands at the top of this French hilltown which is partly walled and has fine views of the countryside. It is part Romanesque and Early Gothic and has one of the most pleasing appearances. The sturdy west towers have large oxen peering out (seen best with binocular). Among the earliest Rose windows grace the Eat and West ends and the transepts. (See Our Tips)
It seems that most tourists these days encounter Beauvais only as they pass through it going to or from its airport at Tille. They are only interested in Paris. Yet it would be easy (and much cheaper) to incorporate Beauvais (and much of Picardie) into such a trip to France. Here is the grandeur of the tallest Gothic Cathedral in the world (St.-Pierre), a Michelin 3* site! As we found, there is much more in Beauvais. (See our Tips). Many travelers ask about how to see a little of the real France on their (2-5th) trips to Paris and nobody seems to suggest this neat way to combine a cheap flight with a different approach. Instead of “nightlife”, substitute good local evening meals. There is a minibus from the airport that makes stops at all the inexpensive hotels around the city. There are a dozen trains to the Gare du Nord in Paris from the station near St.-Etienne (another church which...
On our way west from Laon, we stopped at the ruins of Ourscamp Abbey 6 km south of Noyon and then briefly stopped at Noyon as well walking around the entire structure, noting the excellent chevet, a ruined ancient Bishop’s Chapel and a 16C unusual wooden two storied library.
Picardie has other sites to visit other than intriguing cathedrals, namely chateaux and castle-ruins. They can be incorporated as part day visits, all accessible by car. The ruins of the Chateau de Coucy is the greatest 13C structure, not like the luxury site of Compiegne or the imaginatively reconstructed Pierrefonds. Although le Duc also worked at Coucy he did not alter it. The 19C Romantics loved it and Parisians made day-trips here by train at that time. It is near Laon, Soissons, Noyon and Compiegne.
The chateau houses the Jacquemart-Andre Museum of Art similar to its relative in Paris (a "residence of a collector"). The Abbey and the grounds present their own revelations. We have written about it all in our pages under Fontaine-Chaalis, the nearest town.
What you should definitely do when you're in Picardie is just take the car (or bicycle) and a good map and just drive around. Try to find the small roads and enjoy all the views you will definitely come across. I seem to have forgotten to take pictures of the views we saw, but we also stopped a couple of times to have some 'quality time' with some horses. :-) Or to take a picture of a stork for instance. So just drive around on the small roads, you won't regret it. (Don't be mistaken by my pictures, there are lots of forests or small woods in the region also)
Currently included in the region of Picardy, Chantilly boasts one of the most sumptuous palaces in France. A chateau built on the water with turrets, domes, fantastic gardens and everything a chateau needs to evoque the magnificiency of the French court.The palace, managed by the Institut de France, can be hired on the hour for your most special occasions.The famous Hypodrome and the Horse Museum complete the attractions of Chantilly and place it among the main hypic destinations in Europe.
The Aisne,also named after a river -a tributtary of the Oise, is one of the 83 Departments created in 1790, including parts of the former Provinces of Île de France (Laonnois, Soissonnais, Noyonnais and Valois) and Picardie (Thiérache, Vermandois).Its capital is the small town of Laon. The capital as well as the rest of the important towns (Soissons and Saint-Quentin) all boast impressive Gothic churches.
Mercure Amiens Cathedrale Amiens
1 Review and 129 Opinions Great view!!! Wonderful view of the Cathedral from right out your room window! Nice quiet location,...
Les Corderies Saint-Valéry-sur-Somme
City Hotel Beauvais Beauvais
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