Amiens is a city and commune in northern France, 120 km (75 mi) north of Paris and 100 km (62 mi) south-west of Lille.
| Country | France |
|---|---|
| Region | Hauts-de-France |
| Department | Somme |
| Government | |
| Mayor (2020–2026) | Brigitte Fouré |
| Area | 49.46 km2 (19.10 sq mi) |
| Population (2017-01-01) | 134,057 |
| Density | 2,700/km2 (7,000/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
Geography
Location
Located in the Paris Basin, the city benefits from a privileged geographical position, with close proximity to Paris, Lille, Rouen, London and Brussels.
Hydrography: Somme and canal, Avre and Selle
The main stem of the River Somme passes through Amiens and is generally benign, except during exceptional floods that can last up to several weeks (such as in spring 2001).
The hydrographic network has always been an important city-operated asset. The river helped shape the identity of the landscape, urban and economic territory. It is around the quarters of Saint-Leu, Saint-Maurice bordering the River Somme and most of the administrative and civil area of the current city center which the city has developed since antiquity.
The Canal de la Somme dates from the beginning of the 19th century and the bridge at the foot of the citadel was built after World War II.
Transport
Amiens is a hub between the Île de France and the rest of northern France; Normandy and Benelux; and France and Great Britain.
Roads
Since antiquity, Amiens has been a crossroads of important routes.
Parking
In 2013, the city counted approximately 70,000 public parking spaces, including 8,400 in the city center and in its immediate vicinity, where 70% of places are paid.
Public transport
The bus network is today managed by the Ametis mixed economy company, whose network covers Amiens Métropole, the agglomeration of Amiens.
- The Place Gambetta: An important hub of the former tram network of Amiens at the beginning of the 20th century.
- The lycée de jeunes filles and tramway, Rue des Otages, now Lycée Madeleine-Michelis.
- A bus of the network of public transport in Amiens .
Cycle networks
Amiens has developed two bike services: Buscyclette and Velam.
- Buscyclette is a service of rental bikes on demand, nearly 2,400 “green bikes” are available for rent, essentially city bikes but also electric bikes (VAE), folding bicycles and specific bikes (kids bikes, child trailers, mountain bikes, freight bikes, tandems, etc.). The rental period varies from half a day to one year.
- Velam [fr] is a bike sharing system (VLS)
In 2012, Amiens Métropole had 100 kilometres (62 mi) of routes for cyclists.
Railways
There are three railway stations:
- Two stations on the Paris-Boulogne and Amiens – Rouen lines:
- The Amiens station, main station, known as Gare du Nord, in memory of the Compagnie du Nord who created it. Every day, 15,000 travelers use its seven lines.
- The station of Saint-Roch
Air transport
In addition to Amiens – Glisy Aerodrome, bordering the town’s eastern edge 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) from the center, there are several airports nearby.
- Albert – Picardie Airport
- Beauvais-Tillé Airport
- Lille Airport
- Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport
Education
Primary and secondary education
Educational institutions of the city fall under the supervision of the Academy of Amiens which develops curriculum according to the Inspection académique la Somme.
In 2011, the Amiens agglomeration included 46 nursery schools, six elementary schools and 54 primary schools including eleven private. It had nine public colleges and six private colleges. Amiens has 24 schools:
Higher education
The Amiens metropole welcomes one of the largest student populations in France. In 2013, the city had 26,000 students (3,300 in short-term) and 800 researchers who are divided into some 40 institutions of higher education, 32 laboratories, and 10 units associated with the National Scientific Research Centre or the French Institute of Health and Medical Research.
Health
The Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) or, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire of Amiens Picardie, is organized around four sites:
- South Hospital, Avenue René-Laënnec
- North Hospital, Place Victor-Pauchet
- Saint-Victor Centre, 354 Bis Boulevard de Beauville
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology Centre, 124 Rue Camille-Desmoulins
Sport
In 2013, Amiens Métropole had nearly 300 sports associations and Sports Recreation: approximately 150 associations are grouped within the Office of Amiens Metropole Sports[54] and 150 others are referenced without being adherents.[55] According to this same Office for Sports, Amiens has 25,000 members of sports clubs, excluding school and university members.
Economy
Both an industrial hub and services center, Amiens enjoys a large pool of workers with a labor pool of over 350,000 inhabitants and numerous professional training courses.
The strengths of the city include a developed real estate business and taxation around the average for French cities. In addition, its geographical position in the center of the triangle “Paris – London – Brussels”, is between three major European cities.
Culture, tourism and heritage
The strategic position of Amiens makes it an attractive destination for a weekend or a few days, from Paris, Lille or Brussels. Amiens also benefits from the proximity of the Baie de Somme, a tourist hotspot.
Amiens has the label of Towns and Lands of Art and History since 1992. Within this framework, the host of the heritage organises guided tours on themes intended for an audience of adults and children, with educational workshops.
Amiens has an important historical and cultural heritage, and an accessible and varied natural heritage, on which tourism is based.
Environmental heritage
With 270 hectares (670 acres) of green space (excluding communal woodland) 118,300 hectares (292,000 acres) of hortillonnages, 300 hectares (740 acres) of forests, 30 hectares (74 acres) of marshland, and its river and its streams, Amiens proves to be green and blue city.
The main parks and gardens
The principal parks and gardens in the city.
- Parc Saint-Pierre
- Parc du Grand Marais
- Jardin des plantes
- Parc de l’Evéché d’Amiens
- Jardin médiéval on Impasse Joron, etc.
Cultural heritage
Museums
- The Musée de Picardie
- The Hotel de Berny Museum
- The House of Jules Verne
- The Gallery of stained glass
- The House of culture of Amiens
- The Fonds régional d’art contemporain of Picardie
Concert halls
The city has a number of concert spaces, mostly small venues, and pubs also host numerous concerts throughout the year.
Theaters
- The House of Culture of Amiens
- The Comédie de Picardie
- The Maison du Théâtre
- The puppet theatre “Chés cabotants of Amiens”
- The Boîte à Rire is a café-théâtre
Cultural events and festivals
Throughout the year, Amiens is the seat of many cultural, traditional or economic events.
Comics
Amiens is a stronghold of comics in France. A whole generation of designers and Amiens writers make the city an important creative center of the 9th art.
Gastronomic specialities
During December, the town hosts the largest Christmas market in northern France. Amiens, in the image of the Picardy region, has a rich gastronomic heritage. Here are some of the specialities:
Amiens is known for a few local foods, including “macarons d’Amiens”, small, round-shaped biscuit-type macaroons made from almond paste, fruit and honey, “tuiles amienoises” , chocolate and orange curved “tuiles” or biscuits; Pâté de canard d’Amiens – duck pâté in pastry, and “la ficelle Picarde”, an oven-baked cheese-topped crêpe with ham and mushroom filling, then topped with fresh cream flavoured with nutmeg, white pepper, and sprinkled with grated cheese before being browned in the oven. The region is also known for “flamiche aux poireaux”, a puff pastry tart made with leeks and cream.
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