Prefecture of the Somme department
Thirteen times a stage town
Population:
134,000 (Amiens area) and 182,000 in the Amiens Métropole conurbation
Personalities:
Jules Verne (writer), Pierre Choderlos de Laclos (writer), Emmanuel Macron (President of the Republic), Jean-Pierre Pernault, Laurent Delahousse, Thierry Adam (journalists), François Ruffin (politician), Anne Brochet (actress), Michou and his famous Parisian cabaret, Jérémy Stravius (swimming), Bernard Quennehen, Philippe Ermenault and his son Corantin, Franck Perque, Robert Marchand (cyclists)
Specialities:
Macaroons, chocolate tuiles, pâté picard (duck), flamiche with leeks, ficelle Picarde. Amiens, cradle of the textile industry thanks to the cultivation of Waide (blue dye)
Sport:
More than 300 associations and 26,600 members. Flagship clubs: Amiens SC Football (Ligue 1), Hockey Club Amiens Somme (Magnus League), Amiens Métropole Natation (Elite), Amiens Université Club Athlétisme (Elite), French youth centre for American football
Events:
"Faites du Sport" (May), French Fencing Championship (June), La Jules Verne (June), FISE, National Athletics Meeting (July), Jean Renaux cycling criterium (August), French Ballon au Poing Championship, National Pétanque (September), Amiens International Wheelchair Tennis Open (October)
Economy:
Digital, health, agri-food, energy storage, automotive (Valéo, Dunlop, Igol). 16th largest university hospital in France. University hub of 30,000 students, ESIE (engineering), ESAD (design). University Citadel (since 2018, 18 hectares)
Festivals:
Hortillonnage Amiens (June-October), Les Tentaculaires (June), Comic Strip Rendez-Vous (June), Amiens International Film Festival (November)
Labels:
4 flowers, Town of Art and History, Destination for All, 2 UNESCO sites, European Youth Capital 2020
Websites:
www.amiens.fr / www.amiens-tourisme.com / www.visit-amiens.com / facebook.com/AmiensMetropoleOfficiel / twitter.com/AmiensMetropole
Amiens Métropole and cycling
The capital of Picardy is a town which gave the world Jules Verne, the most translated French writer in the world, the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron, and the world record holder for the 105+ age group, Robert Marchand, all three of whom were born or adopted in Amiens. The first stage finish here in 1932 was won by an André, Leducq, winner of the Tour that year - as was the penultimate one, won by another André, Greipel in 2015. Another André, Darrigade this time, triumphed here in 1964. In other words, the finishes in Amiens are conducive to sprints, as can be seen from the names of other stage winners in the town: Rudi Altig, Marino Basso, Eric Leman, Mario Cippolini and Dylan Gronewegen, the last winner in town in 2018.
While the memory of the First World War is still vivid in the town, a mention must be made of Émile Friol, world speed champion in 1907 and 1910, buried in the Saint-Pierre national necropolis in Amiens
To see
Notre-Dame Cathedral
Construction: 13th century
Style: Gothic
History: built from 1220, replacing a Romanesque cathedral. Framework, spire, chapels and towers added over the centuries. Restored in the 19th and 20th centuries. Houses the skull of Saint John the Baptist, brought back from the Crusades
Features: 145 m long, 54 m wide, 113 m high. Summer light shows. Rehabilitated Saint-Leu district at its foot
Listed: Historic Monument (1852), UNESCO World Heritage (1981)
Belfry
Construction: 12th century
Style: Gothic base with Romanesque tower and Baroque bell tower
History: built after the destruction of the castle in 1117. Used as town hall, prison, archive room, armory. Burned three times (1562, 1742, 1940)
Features: 52 m high, 11-ton bell named "Marie-Firmine"
Listed: Historic Monument (1926), UNESCO World Heritage
Hortillonnages
300 hectares of marshland between town and nature, accessible by traditional boat. Market gardening and unique habitat. Emblematic site of Amiens
Jules Verne House
Construction: 1845-1854
History: Verne lived here from 1882 to 1900. Bought by the city in 1980. Museum dedicated to the author, managed by the Jules Verne International Centre
Listed: House of the Illustrious
Picardy Museum
Construction: 1855-1867
Opening: 1869
Features: building inspired by Napoleonic Louvre. Archaeology, paintings (Boucher, Fragonard, Corot, Courbet), Puvis de Chavannes frescoes. Showcases Picardy's cultural wealth
Listed: Historic Monument (2012), Museum of France
Zoological Park
6.5 hectares, located at the Petite Hotoie. 250 animals from 60 species. Scenic walk among century-old trees and natural enclosure
To eat
Macarons d’Amiens
Speciality since the 16th century, perfected by the Trogneux house. Unchanged recipe since 1872: almonds, sugar, honey, egg whites, sweet almond oil, bitter almonds. Chocolate, apple & macaron, and speculoos versions since 2016. Brigitte Macron is a descendant of Jean-Baptiste Trogneux
