Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Beauvais
LCathédrale Saint-Pierre de Beauvais and its Gothic choir, the tallest in the world !]
Among absolute musts to see in Beauvais is the Cathedral of Saint-Pierre, a unique, 67-metre tall building whose Gothic choir is the tallest in the world (49m). Marvel at its astronomical clock, a unique masterpiece of precision made by Lucien Vérité. A complete compendium of 19th century clock-making techniques, it has no less than 90,000 parts, perfectly synchronised and assembled in a Romano-Byzantine cabinet 12 metres high and 6 metres wide, and 52 dials ! An amazing place where you can see what the time is in 18 cities of the world !
The Cathedral is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture in a class of its own ! When you first enter the building, you will be astonished at its vertiginous heights, an amazing achievement by its builders. The 13th century Gothic choir will take your breath away. Stand at the centre of the choir and admire the light which floods into this glass cage and the way the colours from the stained-glass windows dance around the white stone arches.
The Cathedral was never completed and has no nave, which gives it a strange outline. Another peculiarity and a rather good one at that is that Beauvais has two cathedrals side by side ! The original one dating from around the year 1000 known as the ‘Basse-Œuvre’ occupies the site intended for the nave.
Son-et-lumière shows featuring the astronomical clock take place every day at 10.30, 11.30, 14.30, 15.30 and 16.30. From April to October, 2 additional shows take place at 12.30 and 13.30.
Beauvais – its historic centre, the MUDO, Quadrilatère and Saint-Lazare Leper House
Beauvais has a remarkable two thousand year old heritage which can be discovered by following the salamanders (the town emblem) set in the ground ! Head for the historic centre and the district around the Cathedral, which has a wonderful village atmosphere.
MUDO – Musée de l’Oise. Installed in the prestigious, recently renovated Palace of the Bishops, Comtes de Beauvais, MUDO presents its collections and temporary exhibitions in a lively, interactive way. Admire the masterful painting by Thomas Couture, marvel at the decorative arts and wonder at the works devoted to landscapes from the forests of France to the Italian lakes, from the frontiers of the Orient to the frozen North.
Other attractions to visit : the Quadrilatère, formerly the national tapestry gallery, is an exhibition space built at the instigation of André Malraux and opened in 1976. Originally the property of the Mobilier National (National Furniture Collection), it was designed to showcase a traditional savoir-faire of Beauvais : tapestry. Resolutely modern, its horizontal orientation blends in perfectly with the Gallo-Roman wall and harmonises with the immense verticality of the cathedral.
Beauvais also has many half-timbered houses like the Maison Gréber, an important centre for ceramics in the Oise, and the old public baths which both illustrate the opulent past of the town. In a class of its own, the Maladrerie Saint-Lazare, originally a leper house, has a wonderful medieval-style garden featuring a broad diversity of medicinal plants and herbs, cereals, vines and raspberries. It is a lovely place to stroll around in a tranquil atmosphere.
At nightfall in summer and around Christmas, the square in front of the cathedral is the auditorium for a son-et-lumière show entitled « Beauvais : la cathédrale infinie », which pays tribute to the exceptional destiny of the magnificent, unfinished edifice.
« My children were enthralled by the son-et-lumière on the front of the cathedral. In fact it was a fun way to learn about the different stages of its construction ! » Gîtes de France Oise
Discover Oise : Cathédrale de Noyon, Musée de la Nacre et la Tabletterie, Château de Chantilly
Opening times
Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Beauvais is open every day.
1 November – 31 March ; 10.00- 12.15, 14.00 – 17.15.
1 April - 31 October 10.00 – 18.15.
How to get to Beauvais
From Paris : leave via Porte de La Chapelle, head for St Denis (Stade de France), then Pierrefite.
Beauvais can be reached via N1 or via A16.
After toll booth, follow Beauvais Centre.
From Rouen : follow Darnétal, then N31 to Gournay-en-Bray then Beauvais. Follow Beauvais Centre.
From Amiens : 2 options : either via N1 via Dury and Breteuil to Beauvais, or via A16, exit Beauvais Centre.
From Compiègne : follow Venette, then Creil-Clermont via N31 dual-carriageway."
