Beauvais is a large town about 75 kilometres north of Paris, in the direction of Amiens. It is the 'capital' of the Oise department.
Exploring Beauvais
France This Way review: the ancient centre of Beauvais was severely damaged during the Second World War, but in the town there remain some interesting monuments and buildings to discover.
Your visit will focus in the area around the cathedral and the Town Hall. As you walk around Beauvais you will notice metal markers set in the pavement that denote the places of interest - visit the tourism office for an explanation of what these refer to.
Beauvais cathedral
The Cathedral of Saint Pierre in Beauvais has had a long history of problems due to over-ambitious plans and various disasters: the choir was destroyed by fire in 1225 and rebuilt over the following decades; a large part of the walls collapsed in 1284; the transept was added in the 16th century then followed by a very large tower (rather than a nave which should have been built first to increase the strength of the building) that collapsed less than five years later.
The tower was never rebuilt and the nave was never constructed, but the existing cathedral is already very large.
Even recent years have brought further problems. After the revolution many of the statues were damaged, then the cathedral was further damaged in the second world war. In the late 20th century the choir, that was left standing when much of the rest of the building collapsed in 1284, started to collapse itself. Major reinforcement work is ongoing.
Despite this the cathedral of Saint Peter remains the highlight of a visit to Beauvais and is a substantial gothic style building mostly dating from the 14th-16th centuries and with some interesting carvings and stained glass windows to enjoy. The 19th century astronomical clock is also interesting and is said to be the largest of its type in the world (it has more than 50 dials to try and understand)! The cloister also retains several stone arches.
Elsewhere in Beauvais
You can also visit the church of Saint Etienne, to see an interesting mix of roman and renaissance style architecture and the attractive 16th century stained glass windows. While most of the church dates from the 16th century, there are parts of the original 12th century roman style church, and the large tower was only added in the late 17th century.
There is also a scattering of medieval houses to be seen in streets around the cathedral and the town hall, for example in the Rue d'Alsace. A particularly interesting group of buildings is the 'maladrerie' where monks looked after the sick at 203 Rue de Paris. You can see the dormitory, chapel, barn and various other associated buildings.
The classical style town hall dates from the 18th century. The statue in front of the Town hall is of Jeanne Hachette, a local hero who led the battle to save Beauvais from being captured during a siege by the Burgundy dukes in the middle of the 15th century.
There is a museum in Beauvais celebrating its important historical role in the rug and carpet industry, at the 'Galerie Nationale de la Tapisserie de Beauvais'. The museum is found in a modern building next to the cathedral.
The departmental museum for the Oise department is in the old Episcopal Palace in Beauvais: this is a very impressive building so you should visit even if you do not want to explore the museum.
Attractions nearby
One of the most popular theme parks in France is a short distance west of Beauvais at Parc Saint-Paul.
About 20 kilometres north-west of the town you can visit the village of Gerberoy, classified among the 'most beautiful villages in France'.
Explore elsewhere in the North East France. You can find more travel ideas in the Oise guide and the Picardy guide.
Arrange a visit to Beauvais
Hotels in Beauvais
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Map of Beauvais and places nearby
Visit near Beauvais with France This Way reviews
Parc Saint-Paul
Parc Saint Paul is one of the most popular theme parks in the north of France
Parc Saint-Paul guide
Gerberoy
The 18th century cottages and pretty gardens, and a radical transformation during the last 50 years, have ensured that Gerberoy is listed among the 'most beautiful villages in France'
Gerberoy guide
Chantilly
The town of Chantilly in the Oise department of Picardy is best known for the Chateau de Chantilly, horses and whipped cream!
Chantilly guide
Royaumont Abbey
Royaumont Abbey, once one of the most important cistercian abbeys in France, is a 13th century abbey north of Paris
Royaumont Abbey guide
Chateau de Chantilly
The Chateau de Chantilly is an extensive castle from the 16th-19th centuries, surrounded by extensive gardens and parkland
Chateau de Chantilly guide
Senlis
The ruined castle, the cathedral and the narrow cobbled streets make Senlis a very pleasant town to visit
Senlis guide... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Oise
Tourist classifications for Beauvais
Beauvais is classified as a village in bloom (ville fleurie) 4*
Address: Beauvais, Picardy, 60000, France || GPS coordinates: latitude 49.4303, longitude 2.0952
Plan your visit to Beauvais, Oise
Sightseeing & tourist attractions to visit nearby
- Cathédrale Saint Pierre (Beauvais): religious monument
- Plan d'eau du Canada: site of natural beauty (4 km)
- Forêt du Parc de Saint-Quentin: site of natural beauty (6 km)
- Parc Saint Paul: theme park (8 km)
- Hortillonnages d'Amiens: site of natural beauty (13 km)
- Remerangles: ville fleurie 4* (14 km)
- Forêt de Hez-Froidmont: site of natural beauty (17 km)
- Gerberoy: most beautiful village (21 km)
- Abbaye Saint Germer de Fly (Saint-Germer-de-Fly): religious monument (23 km)
- Réserve naturelle régionale des Larris et Tourbières de Saint-Pierre-es-Champs: site of natural beauty (26 km)
- Saint-Gervais-Saint-Protais de Gisors (Gisors): religious monument (28 km)
- Mureaumont: ville fleurie 4* (32 km)
Market days in Beauvais, France
Regular market(s) are held in Beauvais each Wednesday all day & Saturday all day. (Markets are held in the morning unless stated.)
The French version of this page is at Beauvais (Francais)