Champagne & Northern France - Discover France: Experience the Best of France - page 349

ture was begun in 1220 to house the skull of St John the Baptist ( on display
approx Apr-Oct) , on display - framed in gold and jewels - in the northern outer wall
of the ambulatory. Connoisseurs rave about the soaring Gothic arches (42.3m high
over the transept), unity of style and immense interior, but for locals, the 17th-cen-
tury statue known as the Ange Pleureur (Crying Angel), in the ambulatory directly
behind the over-the-top baroque (18th century) high altar, remains a favourite.
Weather permitting, it's possible to climb the north tower ( 03 22 92 03 32;
afternoon, closed Tue) ; tickets are sold in the boutique to the left as you approach
the west facade.

MAISON DE JULES VERNE
(Home of Jules Verne; 03 22 45 45 75; www.jules-verne.net ; 2 rue Charles Dubois;
adult €7, audioguide €2; 10am-12.30pm & 2-6.30pm Mon & Wed-Fri, 2-6.30pm Tue,
11am-6.30pm Sat & Sun) Jules Verne (1828-1905) wrote many of his best-known
works of brain-tingling - and eerily prescient - science fiction while living in his tur-
reted Amiens home. Signs are in French and English.

House Museum