Discover Noyon

Noyon combines a historic focus with cultural attractions and a cycling route. At its heart are Notre-Dame Cathedral and the largely preserved cathedral quarter; other highlights include the Musée du Noyonnais, the Musée Jean Calvin, the Théâtre du Chevalet's seasonal programme and the Marché aux fruits rouges. When planning your trip, you can start by considering whether you are most interested in architecture and history, would like to attend a performance or want to make the cycling route your main focus.

Cathedral and cathedral quarter

Notre-Dame de Noyon Cathedral is a masterpiece of Early Gothic architecture and is considered the first cathedral built in northern France. Its classification as Early Gothic describes its architecture; its historic status as northern France's first cathedral offers a distinctive perspective on church construction. The cathedral quarter extends the subject beyond the building itself. Largely preserved, it provides an exceptional testament to the religious life of the bishop and canons. The focus is therefore not only on the cathedral, but also on the religious life associated with the quarter.

Museums offering different perspectives

The Musée du Noyonnais is housed in the former bishop's palace and illustrates the city's origins and development from the Gallo-Roman period to the present day. This broad historical span makes it a way to explore the city's history, focusing on Noyon's development across many eras. In the room known as the “Calvin Room”, the museum houses original works and prints by Calvin, as well as a collection of “Protestant” translations of the Holy Scriptures. The city's history and the works and translations on display are thus among the museum's varied subjects.

The Musée Jean Calvin offers a distinct focus. It was built between 1927 and 1930 on the presumed site of Jean Calvin's birthplace. The location is believed to be the site. The museum explores the history of the spread of the Reformation in the French language, the personality of the reformer and the influence of his work in the 16th and 17th centuries. Together, the two museums offer different historical perspectives: the development of Noyon at the Musée du Noyonnais and Calvin-related subjects at the Musée Jean Calvin.

Performances and cycling route

The Théâtre du Chevalet is a multidisciplinary venue in the heart of Noyon. Its programme includes theatre, dance, circus, puppetry, storytelling and music, with the selection changing from season to season. If a performance is important to your trip, check the programme for the season of your stay.

The 55 km “Au pays des fruits rouges” cycling route starts at Noyon Cathedral, follows the Canal du Nord and passes through the Divette Valley. Its total length gives you a practical guide for planning your ride, while the route description identifies the starting point and other landscape features along the way. This makes planning the ride different from planning around the historic attractions or seasonal performance programme. Check current route conditions before setting off.

Red fruit in Noyon

The Marché aux fruits rouges adds a culinary dimension to the historical and cultural attractions. The market offers a variety of red fruits, as well as jams, syrups, fruit pastes, coulis and sorbets made from them. The selection ranges from the fruits themselves to a variety of preparations. If you are interested in these products, the market offers a different way to experience Noyon than the cathedral, museums or performance programme.

If you are looking for a hotel in Noyon, you can use the reason for your trip as a starting point for your choice: the historic sites, a seasonal performance, the cycling route and the market each offer a different focus. For theatre and cycling, it is worth factoring the relevant seasonal information or route conditions into your plans.

Discover more destinations: Lachelle, Belloy, Songeons, Béthisy-Saint-Martin, Vez, Bornel, Autrêches, Saint-Jean-Aux-Bois

See the regional travel overview: Oise.