Summer, 1918. The air is thick with the sound of distant artillery. War has ravaged northern France for four long years, and now Amiens—this once-prosperous city on the banks of the Somme—is on the front lines. The Amiens cathedral stands as it has for centuries, its soaring vaults and delicate tracery defiant against the chaos. Then the unthinkable happens. A direct hit. A bomb strikes the cathedral… and nothing. No explosion. No fire. No destruction.
It was as if some unseen force had intervened.
But how did the largest Gothic cathedral in France, built between 1220 and 1402, manage to survive the destruction that consumed so many other historic buildings during World War I? This is a story of war, faith, and sheer luck—or perhaps something more.
A Cathedral at Risk
Amiens Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1982, is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. It is famous for its immense size—145 meters long, 70 meters wide, and soaring to 42 meters at the vaults—and for its spectacular sculptural façades. Yet, despite its beauty, Amiens found itself in grave danger during World War I.
Amiens was a strategic stronghold. Its railway station served as a crucial supply hub for Allied troops, making it a prime target for German bombardment. The French government knew that if Amiens was attacked, its greatest monument would not be spared.
A Race Against Time: Protecting a Masterpiece
In 1915, with the war raging and the threat of bombing ever-growing, urgent measures were taken to shield the cathedral from destruction.
- The stained glass windows—some dating back to the 13th century—were carefully dismantled and stored away for safekeeping.
- The great organ, a prized piece of craftsmanship, was also removed piece by piece to preserve it.
- Inside, the mighty pillars of the nave were reinforced with sandbags.
- Outside, a formidable wall of sandbags, some stacked over 10 meters high, was erected to shield the western façade.
These sandbags—the same ones used to line the trenches—served a dual purpose: not only did they protect the cathedral from shrapnel, but they also provided shelter for civilians during air raids.
And yet, no amount of preparation could guarantee the cathedral’s survival.
The Night the Cathedral Almost Fell
The real test came in July 1918. The Germans, determined to cripple the Allied war effort, launched one of their heaviest bombardments on Amiens. Shells rained down on the city, buildings collapsed, and the streets filled with smoke.
Then, it happened. A bomb struck the cathedral. The impact echoed through the empty nave. For a moment, time seemed to freeze.
But nothing happened.
The bomb did not detonate. No explosion, no inferno. Whether by faulty fuse, divine intervention, or sheer luck, the cathedral stood unharmed.
Still, the threat was not over. As Amiens braced for more attacks, the bishop of the city, deeply troubled, sent an urgent message to Pope Benedict XV. The Pope, in turn, reached out to the German nuncio, Eugenio Pacelli—a name that would later become famous as Pope Pius XII. Through diplomatic channels, Pacelli was able to persuade the Germans to spare the cathedral.
Amiens Cathedral had survived—again
The Aftermath: Scars and Restoration
Though spared total destruction, the cathedral did not emerge from the war completely unscathed. Despite all precautions, a storage facility housing the stained glass caught fire, destroying many of the medieval windows that had been so carefully removed.
When peace finally came in 1918, restoration efforts began immediately. While Reims Cathedral, which had suffered far worse damage, underwent a massive post-war reconstruction, Amiens needed mostly structural repairs and replacement of lost glass.
Remarkably, World War II brought little further damage to the cathedral, despite the heavy fighting in the region. Some say this was once again due to the influence of Pacelli—who, by then, had become Pope.
A Testament to Survival
Amiens Cathedral should not be here today. It should have crumbled under the bombardments of war. It should have burned, as so many other cathedrals did. And yet, it stands, as magnificent and as resilient as ever.
Whether by luck, faith, or forces beyond our understanding, one thing is certain: history has tried to erase Amiens Cathedral—twice. And twice, it has survived.
About the cathedral notre-dame d'amiens
- Building period: 1220-1270
- Length: 145 m
- Width: 70 m
- Height (vault): 42 m
Amiens Cathedral is the largest Gothic cathedral in France and one of the most harmonious examples of this architectural style. Construction began in 1220 under Bishop Evrard de Fouilloy, replacing an earlier Romanesque cathedral destroyed by fire. The project was primarily led by the architects Robert de Luzarches, Thomas de Cormont, and later his son Renaud de Cormont.
Architectural Features:
- Façade: The west front of the cathedral is richly adorned with statues and sculptures, including the famous “Last Judgment” scene and the “Gallery of Kings.”
- Flying Buttresses: These characteristic Gothic elements help distribute the enormous weight of the vaults, allowing for the cathedral’s majestic height and open interior space.
- Rose Window: The large rose window on the west façade, added in the 16th century, is a stunning example of stained glass artistry, casting a kaleidoscope of colors within the cathedral.
- Interior Space: The interior is grand and airy, featuring a triforium and magnificent stained glass windows that flood the vaults with light.
Unique Facts:
- Relics: The cathedral houses the head of Saint John the Baptist, an important relic that made the cathedral a significant pilgrimage site.
- Colorful History: Originally, the cathedral’s façade was brightly painted. Though these colors have faded over time, during special events, the original polychromy is digitally recreated and projected onto the façade.
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: Since 1981, the cathedral has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
LUX Travel Tips
- Discover the city with a self-guided audio tour
- Discover the cathedral, book your guided tour with the local Tourism Office. Ask for Pascale 😉
- The chef at Au Quotidien, a tiny restaurant near the cathedral, cooks with heart and soul and loves to talk about the dishes on the menu. Seasonal and local food, incredibly delicious, perfectly presented.
- This authentic house, Maison Longuevie, takes you back in history. Spacious rooms for a fair price, just opposite to a green parc. Guests love this place! Book your room here.
- A 150m2 luxious appartment, opposite to the cathedral! That’s why its called ‘Coté Cathédrale‘ 🙂
