Noyon, Oise tourism & sightseeing
Visit Noyon (Picardy, France)
The town of Noyon is in the north-east of the Oise department (Picardy region) in northern France.
Designated as a 'town of art and history', the heart of a visit to Noyon is centred around the cathedral, the most important monument in Noyon, and in the streets around the cathedral within the original ramparts of the medieval town. This is quite a compact area so the town is easy to explore.
Dating from the 12th-13th centuries, this is one of the first gothic style cathedrals to be built in France. The cathedral was built on the site of an earlier cathedral (that was destroyed by fire in 1131) and is in the so-called 'transitional style' (ie incorporating elements from the earlier roman style and the 'up and coming' gothic style), hence the west front facade of Noyon cathedral is quite different in design to the ornate gothic eastern end.
The area immediately surrounding the cathedral has several related buildings of interest, including the cloisters, the refectory with a storage loft, the sacristy and chapter-house, and the remains of the bishops palace.
The cathedral library is an especially attractive half-timbered building seemingly balanced on a single main supporting wall next to the cathedral itself, and held in place by carved wooden columns. The crypt can be seen just across the Rue de l'Eveche.
There is also a monument to those who died in the two world wars next to the cathedral.
Other things to see in Noyon
Head a little south to the Place de l'Hotel de Ville to see the ornate 17th century town hall and the curious 'fontaine du dauphin' (near the Noyon Tourist Office).
Jean Calvin, the important reformation theologian who gave his name to Calvinism, was born here in the 16th century, and his house is now a museum dedicated to his life (on Rue Calvin, west of the cathedral). Another museum in Noyon is the Musée du Noyonnais, dedicated to the history of the town.
The tourist office in Noyon also offers some guided walks that will enable you to see parts of Noyon you might otherwise miss, such as the subterranean excavations of the original gallo-roman city.
To the north of here in Saint-Quentin the gothic style town hall is the principal attraction.
Map of Noyon and places nearby
Visit near Noyon with France This Way reviews
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Tourist classifications for Noyon
Noyon is classified as a listed town of Art and History
Address: Noyon, Compiègne, Picardy, 60400, France || GPS: latitude 49.581667, longitude 2.999722
Plan your visit to Noyon, Oise
Sightseeing & tourist attractions to visit nearby
- Forêt de Laigue: site of natural beauty (14 km)
- Mont Ganelon: site of natural beauty (18 km)
- Compiène église Saint-Jacques (monuments on French pilgrim routes): heritage site (22 km)
- Forêt de Compiègne: site of natural beauty (22 km)
- Parc du château de Compiègne: remarkable garden (23 km)
- Chateau Coucy: national monument (24 km)
- Pierrefonds Chateau: national monument (26 km)
- Eglise abbatiale de Notre Dame (Morienval): religious monument (32 km)
- Soissons: town of art and history (32 km)
- Gauchy: ville fleurie 4* (33 km)
- Eglise de Saint Martin (Gilocourt): religious monument (33 km)
- Réserve naturelle des Landes de Versigny: site of natural beauty (34 km)
Market days in Noyon, France
Regular market(s) are held in Noyon each Saturday. (Markets are held in the morning unless stated.)
The French version of this page is at Noyon (Francais)