Beauvais

About

Beauvais was the capital of the mighty pre-Roman Bellovaci tribe, and remained a prominent city through much of the Middle Ages. Much of the town was destroyed during WWI, and again during WWII, but there are still some striking historical monuments. First and foremost is the Gothic Cathedral of Saint Pierre. Despite a slew of architectural setbacks, including the collapse of the spire that made it the tallest building in the world for 5 years, the building is an impressive example of High Gothic architecture with colorful 16th century stained glass windows and a nifty astronomical clock. There are a slew of other historical buildings nearby, such as the 'maladrerie' complex where monks cared for the sick, and the former Episcopal Palace. A beautiful Renaissance building accessed by a fortified bridge, it’s now the departmental museum and worth a visit even if you’re not interested in seeing art and artefacts dating back to the 1st century.