Amiens

Amiens is a city in northern France. It is the prefecture of the Somme department in the Hauts-de-France region, situated on the banks of the Somme river about 120 kilometers north of Paris. The commune has roughly 135,000 residents.

Historically, Amiens developed as a medieval town and grew as an ecclesiastical and commercial center. Its most famous monument is the Notre-Dame d’Amiens Cathedral, begun in the early 13th century (c. 1220–1270). This high Gothic cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is noted for its vast interior volume, slender piers, and intricate sculpture.

The city hosts several notable sights and institutions. The Saint-Leu quarter lies along the Somme’s canals, while the Hortillonnages, a network of floating gardens, are a popular area for boat tours. The Musée de Picardie presents regional art and archaeology, and the Maison de Jules Verne is a museum dedicated to the author who lived in Amiens for many years. The city is also the site of the Université de Picardie Jules Verne, a major higher-education institution in the region.

Economically, Amiens relies on administration, education, health, and services, with additional activity in light industry and agribusiness in the surrounding area. The city is well connected by rail to Paris and other northern cities, and it benefits from access to the Somme waterway network for transport and leisure.

Amiens has experienced rebuilding after the World Wars, with the historic center restored and expanded in the postwar period. The city remains a cultural and administrative hub for the Somme department.