Amiens, << AM ee uhnz, >> or in French, << ah MYAN >> (pop. 133,755; met. area pop. 297,468), is a city in northern France. The city lies along the Somme River . The old section of Amiens has numerous buildings that date from the Middle Ages. This section is dominated by one of the world’s largest and most famous Gothic cathedrals, which was built during the 1200’s and 1300’s. Much of the modern section of the city was built after World War II (1939-1945).
Amiens serves as the capital of the Somme department (administrative district) within the Hauts-de-France region. It has long been the center of commerce, communications, and education of the historic region of Picardy. The city’s chief industries include food processing, metalworking, and the manufacture of agricultural machinery, textiles, and tires. The University of Picardy Jules Verne is in the city.
Julius Caesar had headquarters at the site of what is now Amiens in 54 B.C., during the Gallic Wars . The city grew during the Middle Ages, when it became a center of the textile trade. It was badly damaged in World War I (1914-1918) and World War II.
See also Picardy .
