Beauvais combines medieval history and Gothic architecture with art, leisure, wellness and sports facilities. When planning a trip, you can focus on what interests you most: Saint-Pierre Cathedral, the former Saint-Lazare leper colony, museums or the various facilities at Aquaspace.
Architectural history and astronomical clocks
The Maladrerie Saint-Lazare is a former medieval leper colony dating from the 12th and 13th centuries and is a listed historic monument. The visit also includes a medieval-inspired garden, where you can take a seasonal stroll. Access to the garden may vary. The history and garden offer different points of interest: the Maladrerie takes you to a site from the Middle Ages, while a stroll focuses your attention on its landscaped grounds.
Gothic architecture takes centre stage at Saint-Pierre Cathedral. Its choir reaches a height of 48.50 metres beneath the vault. The cathedral also houses two astronomical clocks. An audiovisual presentation of the clock by Auguste-Lucien Vérité explains how it works and shows its figures in motion. This lets you explore two different questions during your visit: how does the height of the Gothic choir impress, and how does an astronomical clock work?
Admission to the cathedral is free. It is open daily, but opening hours vary by season and may change because of services, ceremonies or special events. Check the times before your visit.
Art, exhibitions and guided tours
The MUDO-Musée de l’Oise offers guided tours, workshops and events. Its programme includes the virtual exhibition “Histoire(s). Mythes, récits et merveilles”. As the programme and exhibition availability may change, check current offerings before your trip if you have a particular date or exhibition in mind.
The Quadrilatère – Centre d’art de Beauvais reopened after a complete restructuring, with a new artistic and cultural programme. Guided tours led by the centre’s interpreters are offered throughout the year; dates may change. If a guided tour is important to your plans, check the current programme in advance.
At the Quadrilatère, lifts and adapted facilities improve accessibility. If you rely on these facilities, confirm their condition before your visit.
Water, wellness and exercise
Aquaspace offers a range of areas with different features. The leisure area includes a 295 m² pool, slides, a play lagoon and a 120-metre water course. The 31°C balneotherapy area has a pool, a whirlpool, a sauna and a hammam. The sports area includes a diving pit and a 25-metre pool with eight lanes.
The facilities offer distinctly different options: the slides and play lagoon are part of the leisure area, while balneotherapy and sports each have their own areas. The dimensions give an idea of the water facilities available, without implying that they serve the same purpose. As facilities and operations may change, check in advance whether the areas you need for your visit are available.
Strolling is also part of what Beauvais has to offer. You can take a walk alone or with your family in Parc Marcel Dassault. The Maladrerie Saint-Lazare offers another option with its medieval-inspired garden, access to which may vary seasonally.
Discover more destinations: Mouy, Montreuil-sur-Thérain, Breuil-le-Vert, Verneuil-en-Halatte, Lagny-Le-Sec, Chevrières, Tourly, Lacroix-Saint-Ouen.
For the regional travel overview: Oise.
