Archæological curiosities: FAÇADE OF THEATRE (_p. 35_), OLD HOUSES (_pp. 47-56_), CHURCHES OF ST. LEU (_pp. 52-53_), ST. GERMAIN (_pp. 47-48_) AND ST. RÉMY (_p. 37_). Picturesque sights: ST. LEU QUARTER (_p. 52_), THE HORTILLONNAGES (_p. 51_). Walks: HOTOIE PARK (_p. 55_), NEW BOULEVARDS, and THE RUE DE BEAUVAIS (_p. 45_), whose ruins attest the violence of the bombardment. _Specialities_: Macaroons, potted duck. Itinerary recommended for visiting Amiens (_Distance: 6½ miles_) _Starting point: Place de la Cathédrale._ THE CATHEDRAL (_historical monument_) =The Cathedral at Amiens= is the most perfect example of Gothic architecture extant, realizing as it does to the full, the possibilities of this style. According to Viollet-le-Duc, it is pre-eminently an "ogival church." The Cathedral is typical, both from an architectural point of view, and also on account of its statues, which form one of the finest collections of Middle-Age sculpture. From an iconographic standpoint, this statuary constitutes one of the most complete summaries of the religious thought of past centuries. The Cathedral (_see plan, p. 22_) covers a ground surface of about 9,000 square yards. Measured on the outside, it has a total length of about 480 feet and a width of 230 feet at the transept. It is the largest church in France. The construction of the principal façade and nave was begun in 1220, from plans prepared by the architect, Robert de Luzarches, who was succeeded in his task by Thomas de Cormont and afterwards by his son, Renaud de Cormont. Although no Cathedral has ever been built in entire conformity with the original plans, that of Amiens was probably completed more quickly than any other, and with less alteration of the original designs. In 1269, fifty years after the commencement of the building operations, there only remained to be built the upper portion of the west façade and the two great rose-windows of the transept. The only important alteration made in the original plans was the addition, in the 14th century, of chapels between the buttresses and flying-buttresses of the nave. The Cathedral is built of grey limestone, on foundations 26 feet thick. West Façade The upper portion, consisting of two towers of unequal height, finished in different styles, belongs to the 14th century. The north tower, which is the higher, contains the great bells. The openings are decorated with statues of the Apostles, which have been either restored or renewed. The upper storey of the south tower contains two bays with openings surmounted by gables. It is terminated by a pointed roof with a dormer-window and lead spikes. A gallery, called the ringers' gallery, with covered arcades surmounted by pinnacles and turrets, connects the two towers. [Illustration: WEST FAÇADE]