Running in Beauvais: in the heart of Oise
- audreyubertino
- May 11
- 3 min read
Located in the Hauts-de-France region, just a few kilometres north of the Paris Basin, Beauvais is particularly popular with tourists for its historical and architectural heritage. Awarded the ‘City of Art and History’ designation in 2012, Beauvais invites visitors to explore nearly 2,000 years of history, from its ancient ramparts to the Town Hall, not forgetting, of course, its exceptional cathedral. The JOOKS app takes you on a journey of discovery through the prefecture of the Oise thanks to the audio-guided tours offered by the city!
Beauvais was founded in the 1st century AD. At that time, it was a Roman camp known as Caesaromagus, ‘Caesar’s market’. It was later renamed Civitas Bellovacorum, the ‘city of the Bellovaci’, a name from which its current name is derived. But it was during the Middle Ages that the town developed and experienced significant economic growth, largely thanks to the textile industry. Artisans worked with all kinds of wool, and Beauvais cloth was exported as far as the East.
A town steeped in history…
The famous St. Peter’s Cathedral in Beauvais was built in the 13th century; this masterpiece of Gothic art, which remains unfinished, boasts the world’s tallest Gothic choir (48.50 metres). During your stroll, do pop into the cathedral to admire the magnificent stained-glass windows and, above all, the splendid astronomical clock, created by Auguste-Lucien Vérité in the 19th century.
Just a short distance from the historic town centre lies an example of medieval hospital architecture that is virtually unique in France. The Saint-Lazare leprosarium is a former leprosy hospital dating from the 12th century, listed as a historic monument. Several buildings have been preserved and some are open to visitors, notably the barn, which has been beautifully restored.
Whilst the First World War spared the city’s architectural heritage to some extent, the same cannot be said of the Second World War. Indeed, from the very start of the conflict, Beauvais was bombed by the German air force, causing a massive fire. 80% of the city centre was destroyed, and the town lost almost all traces of its past. A reconstruction plan was launched immediately afterwards, seeking to incorporate the surviving heritage whilst modernising the city.
As you run or walk through the centre of Beauvais, you can also admire the half-timbered and cob houses that still line a few streets, having survived the German bombing raids. The oldest of these houses dates back to 1410 and is now located just a stone’s throw from the cathedral, on the Rue des Chasse-Marée.
…and art.
Housed in the former episcopal palace, the residence of the Bishop-Counts of Beauvais, the MUDO (Musée de l’Oise) was established in the mid-19th century. The architectural complex, listed as a historic monument, comprises several buildings dating from the 12th to the 16th centuries. You will particularly notice its impressive fortified entrance, flanked by two twin towers. The Musée départemental de l’Oise houses a varied collection, ranging from archaeological objects to the various movements in 19th-century painting. It also showcases the talents and craftsmanship of the department.
The most remarkable of these crafts is undoubtedly tapestry, which brought fame to the town for several centuries. The workshops of the manufactory were destroyed during the bombings of 1940 but, after being relocated to Paris for a few years, they returned to Beauvais in the late 1980s. The manufactory reached its peak in the 18th century. The quality of its production was on a par with that of the Gobelins Manufactory in Paris.
In tribute to the Royal Tapestry Manufactory that Beauvais once was, the National Tapestry Gallery opened in 1976 on the initiative of André Malraux. Renamed Le Quadrilatère in 2016, the venue houses a superb collection of tapestries, antique furniture and paintings.
Beauvais: the natural side
Built on the site of a former sand and gravel quarry, the Canada lake is an oasis of tranquillity and greenery. Covering 45 hectares, the water sports centre offers a wide variety of sporting and leisure activities: kayaking, pedalos, tree-top adventure courses, swimming, fishing… Over 3 kilometres of trails and paths are also available for walkers, runners and cyclists.
The Canada water sports centre has been selected, along with three other sites in the city of Beauvais, as a training centre for the Paris Olympic Games under the “Terre de Jeux 2024” scheme. The water sports centre is indeed more than well-suited to outdoor sports and is also ideally located, just a few kilometres from the Jules Ladoumègue Stadium and the Aquaspace, as well as the Olympic Village.
Run, walk or cycle with JOOKS, from Saint-Pierre Cathedral to the Musée de l’Oise!
Find all the routes in Beauvais and over 1,700 more in the JOOKS app.
Parabéns pelo conteúdo — a explicação foi leve e envolvente do início ao fim. Eu também gosto de usar o teste de tempo de reação para verificar minha coordenação visual, agilidade de clique e capacidade de concentração. É interessante comparar os resultados entre diferentes sessões.
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The combination of Gothic architecture wacky flip, medieval history, and scenic running routes around Beauvais is incredibly appealing