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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Germain-l'Écosses, located in Amiens in the Hauts-de-France, was first mentioned in 1131. The present building, flamboyant Gothic style, was built between 1455 and 1490 after the Hundred Years War, thanks to the renewed prosperity. The letters patent of Louis XI in 1470-1471 authorized its enlargement, with works beginning in 1478 and ending in 1487. The bell tower, initially covered with tiles, was covered with slates in 1582 and surmounted by a wooden roof.

The church suffered damage during the siege of Amiens in 1597, requiring a restoration completed in 1604. In the 19th century, a major restoration (1855-1877) was carried out by architect Louis Henry Antoine: recast vaults, consolidated bow-buttons, and suppression of the adjoining stalls. The bell tower, leaning northward, was partially rebuilt, and iron draughts were added to stabilize the structure. The building was classified as a historic monument in 1906.

Damaged during the two World Wars (1918 and 1940), the church suffered a fire destroying part of its furniture. The restorations ran from 1957 to 1992, including work on bows, cover, and bell tower. Today, it is unacralized and closed for security reasons, and preserves works of art classified as a 1506 tomb and 16th century statues. Its nickname 'Pice de Picardie' comes from the marked inclination of its bell tower.

Inside, with three naves with dogive cross-sections, presents decorated arch keys and traces of 19th century wall decorations. The Latin cross plan, typical of the flamboyant gothic, includes a non-protective transept and a cut-sided bedside. The northern chapels, adjacent to the building, bear the coat of arms of the Le Cat and Le Coustellier families. Despite its successive restorations, the church remains a major testimony of the Amieno religious architecture of the 15th and 16th centuries.

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