Tour Perret Panoramic Terrace
Auguste Perret's 1952 reinforced-concrete tower — the first skyscraper built in post-war France and now a listed monument — offers the highest public viewpoint in Hauts-de-France, with the cathedral, the hortillonnages and the Somme valley spread below you like a relief map.
A Modernist Landmark Reborn
Built to anchor the reconstruction of a city flattened by WWII bombing, the 104-metre Tour Perret was Amiens' controversial statement of faith in the future. Perret, who also rebuilt Le Havre (another UNESCO city), used raw béton brut decades before Brutalism became fashionable.
After years of closure for restoration, the tower reopened its panoramic terrace to the public, making it finally possible to appreciate Perret's bold urban vision from above.
What You See from the Top
On a clear day the view stretches north to the chalk downlands of the Somme département and south toward the gentle Amiénois plain. Directly below, the cathedral's flying buttresses fan out like the ribs of a stone umbrella — a perspective impossible from the ground.
The hortillonnages glitter to the east, a green-and-silver jigsaw of islands and channels that makes the city's agricultural heart suddenly legible.
Visiting Practically
The terrace is accessed via a guided visit organised through the Amiens tourist office; check current schedules as opening days vary seasonally. The visit also takes in the building's remarkable lobby with its original Perret ceramics.
Combine it with the Musée de Picardie two blocks away for a full afternoon of architecture and art.
More of Amiens
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore Amiens →
