Doullens tells its story on different scales: through the Citadel as a fortified site, museum collections spanning several centuries, and specific memorial sites from the First World War. There are also distinctive architectural features and a 15-kilometre circuit linking four places. A culturally focused stay offers a range of themes, from art and architectural history to a precisely dated historic meeting.
Fortress and Museum Collections
The Citadelle de Doullens is the oldest fortified site in France. The Musée Lombart offers a different perspective: it has held the status of a Musée de France since 17 September 2003. Its significant collections include French and foreign paintings from the 17th to the 19th centuries, ceramics, bronzes, documents on local history and Egyptian antiquities.
The collection thus ranges from paintings from different centuries to decorative arts, records of local history and Egyptian antiquities. Art lovers will find a different way to explore Doullens’ past here than at the fortifications and memorial sites. The focus shifts between broader and local themes, without the individual collection areas converging on a single period.
First World War Memorial Sites
The Salle du Commandement Unique commemorates the meeting held in Doullens on 26 March 1918, which led to the unified command of the Allied troops under General Foch. Visitors can use a digital table and two freely accessible virtual reality headsets to experience the historical presentation. If you would like to include this technology in your plans, check that the equipment is currently available before your visit, as availability may change.
To the north of Doullens, the Calvaire Foch stands on elevated ground. It marks the exact spot where the first German 240 mm shell landed in August 1914. The monument’s design also commemorates Marshal Foch and the soldiers: its pedestal bears a high-relief medallion of Foch and a bas-relief depicting three soldiers, an airman and two infantrymen.
Beffroi and Église Saint-Pierre
The present-day Beffroi de Doullens was built in 1613 from brick and stone in the rusticated ashlar style. Its later recognitions came on different dates: it was added to the inventory of historic monuments in 1966 and recognised by UNESCO in 2005. The timeline distinguishes the construction of the building from the later steps in its recognition.
In the Église Saint-Pierre, the triforium stands out as an architectural detail, with its pointed arches and slender columns. A bas-relief depicting the Assumption is also located on the outer wall of the south aisle; it is in a deteriorated state. The church was listed as a historic monument on 4 September 1924. When exploring its architectural history, visitors can distinguish between a specific interior feature, a relief on the outer wall and the monument listing.
A Circuit Beyond Doullens
The 15 km Circuit de Beaurepaire links Doullens, Amplier, Halloy and Grouches-Luchuel. It complements the individual buildings and memorial sites with a route that connects several places. You can make the circuit a focus of your trip; check the latest route details before setting out.
Discover more destinations: Baizieux, Cahon, Crécy-En-Ponthieu, Épagne-Épagnette, Épaumesnil, Camps-En-Amiénois, Quend, Boismont.
For the broader travel overview: Somme.
