10 Things to do Good for Kids in Picardy That You Shouldn't Miss

Amiens Cathedral is one of the finest examples of late Gothic art in Europe. It is also the Cathedral of records since it is the largest in France and the spire rises to a height of 112.70 meters. The towers provide splendid views of the city and of the last medieval steeple still be seen on a Cathedral. Re-opening of the Cathedral Treasury. Cathedral designated world heritage site by UNESCO. Open: > April, May, June, September: Guided tour at 3 p.m. and 4.30 p.m. except Saturday and Sunday, Unaccompanied tour from 2.30 to 5.15 p.m. > July, August: Guided tour at 11 a.m., Unaccompanied tour from 2.30 p.m. to 5.15 p.m. > October to March: Guided tour at 3.45 p.m. Closed: > Tuesdays. > 1st January, 1st May and 25th December. > Last Sunday in September. Admission fees: Adults : 7,50 €; Concessions (18 to 25) = 4,50 €; Free admission: minors under 18*; Free admission: 18-25 years old* (citizens of one of the 27 countries of the EU or are non-European permanent residents of France) * excluding school groups

Le Domaine de Chantilly s'etend sur 7 800 hectares au sein de l'une des plus grandes forets des environs de Paris. Il est compose du chateau et de son musee Conde, du parc et de ses jardins, des grandes ecuries et de leur musee du cheval. Constitue depuis le Moyen-Age par les differents proprietaires (Anne de Montmorency, les Bourbon-Conde dont le Grand Conde, cousin de Louis XIV, Henri d'Orleans, duc d'Aumale), cet ensemble represente donc un patrimoine aux facettes multiples et le plus grand exemple en France d'un domaine princier. Le chateau abrite le Musee Conde, lequel est constitue des appartements princiers, d'une collection exceptionnelle de peintures - plus de 800 chefs d'oeuvres d'artistes tels que Botticelli, Raphael, Poussin, Delacroix - qui en fait le premier musee de peintures anciennes (avant 1850) en France apres le musee du Louvre et d'une bibliotheque et d'archives qui conservent plus de 13 000 ouvrages dont le manuscrit le plus precieux au monde : "Les Tres Riches Heures du duc de Berry". Le parc offre quant a lui un panorama grandiose de l'art du jardin occidental : jardin a la francaise dessine par Le Notre au XVIIe siecle, le Hameau qui inspira Marie-Antoinette, le jardin anglo-chinois du XVIIIe siecle, et le jardin anglais du XIXe siecle.

Dating back to the 15th century, the Chateau de Pierrefonds was comprehensively restored and altered by architect Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th century to transform it into an imperial residence for Napoleon III. The chateaux often seems to have been specially built for a swashbuckling film with its richly varied painted and sculpted decors, its defensive system and drawbridge, walkways and drop-boxes, not to forget the two reconstructions of medieval siege engines. Open: > 2nd May to 4th September: from 9.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. > 5th September to 30th April: from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. Last admission 45 minutes before closing time. Closed: > Mondays from 5th September to 30th April. > 1st January, 1st May and 25th December. Admission fees: Adults : 7,50 €; Concessions (18 to 25) = 4,50 €; Free admission: minors under 18*; Free admission: 18-25 years old* (citizens of one of the 27 countries of the EU or are non-European permanent residents of France) * excluding school groups.