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Amiens (about 135 000 inhabitants), is the historical capital of Picardy, capital of the department of the Somme, is a little more than 120 km from Rouen and only 130 km from Paris, strategically located midway between Paris and the border with Belgium the city is crossed by the Somme river. 

Main Attractions of Amiens: The main tourist attraction of Amiens is undoubtedly the magnificent Gothic Cathedral of Notre-Dame, inserteded from 1981 in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Site. The Cathedral, a masterpiece of engineering, was built in the thirteenth century, and is the largest of all France (with an area of over 7 500 square meters), is twice the great cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris, measuring 145 meters in length and 112 m high, while the vaults of the central nave reached 42.30 meters high. 

The construction of the cathedral was begun in 1220 by the will of the Bishop Evrard de Fouilloy, as is clear from his tombstone grave visible inside. The work was performed by Canon Robert de Luzarches and later by Thomas de Cormont and his son Renault de Cormont, in 1288 the building was practically finished. 

The cathedral is famous mainly for the splendid Gothic style portals, for the wonderful choir, where you can admire the 110 wooden seats which were carved between 1508 and 1519 and for the so-called "Bible of Amiens", a series of sculptures, includes almost all episodes of the Old and New Testament, most of the sculptures dating from the thirteenth century. The facade with two towers added in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, has three portals, over and above which there are two galleries, the upper part with the statues of the kings of Judah and Israel, and a magnificent rose window. The right portal describes the life of Mary, while on the left is depicted the life of St. Firmin. The interior has three aisles both at the front and in the transept, with an apse divided into four sectors. Inside is housed the relic of the alleged head of St. John the Baptist, brought from Constantinople by Wallon de Sarton returned from the Fourth Crusade. At the cathedral sadly lacking all original windows, which have been destroyed. 

A signed itinerary allows the visit of the most interesting places of Amiens, for each building are also present panels that show history. In addition to the cathedral to be visited are: the characteristic alleys and canals of the historic center (St. Paul quarter), Beffroi, Cirque municipal, Maison de Jules Verne (home of Jules Verne), the Tour Perret, the church Saint-Leu, the Musée de Picardie (works of sculpture and painting), and the districts of Saint-Leu and Maurice and many green spaces of this beautiful and peaceful city. 

Sightseeing in the area: between Amiens and Paris are some interesting places to visit, the first is Beauvais, offering as a main attraction St.Pierre Cathedral, inside of which is the original Astronomical Clock and the Museum of the Department of Oise. Other place of interest is Chantilly, best known for the Conde Museum, housed in the castle, where the Great Stables hosting the Living Museum of Horses. Nearby is the Asterix park dedicated to the great hero of comics.