Dominating the city, the Gothic Cathedral of St. Peter in Beauvais, Oise, is famous for its choir whose vault is 48 metres above the ground. Built between the 13th and 16th centuries, it is nonetheless unfinished but no less magnificent for it. Inside, admire the superb stained glass windows and its incredible 12-metre-high astronomical clock. A 19th-century masterpiece made up of 90,000 parts, 15 motors, 52 dials and 68 automata! Seasons, days, eclipses, tides... it gives a great deal of information. Another marvel of the cathedral is the medieval clock from the 14th century, which has turned out to be one of the oldest chiming clocks still in operation.
As you continue your tour, you will see that Beauvais has other fine monuments such as the Church of St. Stephen, a great example of the transition between Romanesque and Gothic. It has magnificent stained glass windows like the 16th-century one depicting the Tree of Jesse, for which it is famous. Another building, the Maladrerie Saint-Lazare with 12th and 13th-century hospital architecture, is a former lepers' hospital converted into a cultural centre.
With its 14th-century towers and pretty French formal garden, the former episcopal palace now houses the MUDO - Museum of Oise, whose collection of 19th-century artworks is devoted to landscapes. Also take the time to admire the old houses, like the house of Francis I, and the Gallo-Roman ramparts.
With its contemporary architecture, Le Quadrilatère contrasts with the ancient monuments but blends in perfectly with its surroundings. This venue for temporary exhibitions is devoted to tapestry from the 16th century to the present day. If this topic appeals to you, be sure to pay a visit to the National Tapestry Manufactory based in the former abattoirs, for an extensive overview of the tapestry-related trades.
