Amiens: Cologne to fall in love with!

The start in Arras was actually great: relaxed cycling on an old railway line.

But the idyllic scene suddenly came to an end. The railway line terminated, and with it came trucks, hills, and beet fields.

Every now and then, a ruin would appear by the wayside.

And then it was also spiders' first flight day! Spiderwebs were everywhere – on bikes, helmets, and clothes. An unintentional decoration for the rest of the journey.

Then finally: Amiens!

The cathedral can be seen from afar. And that's where the parallels to Cologne begin: Cologne Cathedral was planned based on the model of Amiens Cathedral – whose construction had begun a few decades earlier.

Notre-Dame (its official name) also became an important pilgrimage site because of a relic: the alleged skull of John the Baptist.

Cologne also boasts a rather prominent relic: the Three Wise Men.

With an interior volume of over 200,000 cubic meters, Amiens Cathedral is the largest Gothic cathedral in France. Cologne Cathedral is slightly larger, but Amiens has a decisive advantage: it was completed in about 50 years! Cologne, as is well known, took approximately 600 years. And while Cologne Cathedral only truly reveals its majestic grandeur from the Rhine bridges or the A4 motorway, Notre-Dame in Amiens can be seen seemingly from everywhere.

And then there's Saint Martin. He's said to have shared his cloak with a freezing beggar here in Amiens. The Palace of Justice stands on that spot today. Could law and mercy possibly have something to do with each other?

Connection to Cologne: St. Martin's Day is celebrated in Cologne with more enthusiasm than almost anywhere else!

Where the Prussians added towers to their cathedral, Amiens built one for itself too. Why, I don't know…

And another modern parallel: Soon, 78 futuristic electric articulated buses will be driving around in Cologne, just like in Amiens!

And Amiens, like Cologne, is a university town: The university is named after Jules Verne, who was born here. Even the little ones are reminded of this.

What Cologne doesn't have, however, are floating gardens.

The Hortillonnages are a unique paradise of small islands, canals, and gardens. Essentially a giant allotment garden colony – only here, the fences are replaced by water.

Amiens, you surprised me. A little bit of Cologne, a little bit of France – and floating gardens to boot.

Goodbye, Amiens!