Beauvais

Rue Gui Patin and Rue Gambetta: view east into Rue du 27 Juin

Beauvais is a town in Oise Hauts-de-France, approximately 90 km from the centre of Paris.

Get in

By plane

1 Beauvais–Tillé Airport (BVA  ^IATA). This airport is used by a number of discount airlines such as Ryanair who often market it as being "Paris-Beauvais airport", suggesting that it is close to Paris. (updated Sep 2020)

Getting there/away:

• By bus from Paris-Porte Maillot, 1:15 hrs, €16.90 (as of Oct 2023); also from Amiens' bus station. Besides, there is a regular shuttle bus connecting the airport to the Beauvais city centre (Cathedral, train station and town hall) and line 6 (Town hall - Tilleuls activity zone - Tillé- Airport), run by Corolis.
• By train, the TER Picardie (SNCF) network provides links between Paris-Nord station and Beauvais station, from where the Corolis network services provide access to the airport. Beauvais station is also connected to the towns of Creil and Tréport. Via the Beauvais-Roissy-Disneyland link, a shuttle bus runs to Beauvais-Tillé Airport from Paris-Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle Airport — Disneyland Paris.
• By private car, the airport is easily accessible by the A16 motorway and the RN1 from Paris or Amiens, or by the RN31 from Rouen or Reims.

By train

2 Gare de Beauvais. Opened in 1857 this station mostly sees TER service. The Paris-Beauvais train line makes several round trips per day, especially during rush hour. This line also passes through Creil (where the RER passes). There is also a line to Eu Le Tréport/Abancourt.  

By bus

Shuttles connect Paris (Porte Maillot) to Beauvais-Tillé airport, they cost €16 and generally correspond to flight times.

The towns of Oise are connected to Beauvais by various bus lines, it costs €2 regardless of the journey in the Oise.

The number 30 TER-Picardie bus line connects Amiens and Beauvais for €9.30.

By car

A16 towards Paris and towards Amiens, from where the motorways leave towards Rouen, Reims, Lille.

RN31 towards Rouen, N16 towards Creel.

Get around

By bus

Public transport is provided by Transports Urbains du Beauvaisis (TUB). This network is made up of 25 regular bus lines serving Beauvais and its metropolitan area.

By airport shuttle

A shuttle service between the city centre and the airport costs €4 for a 48-hour pass (the only option available). It is generally cheaper to take the bus.

By bike

There are two bicycle stations: one next to the SNCF train station and one at the airport. You can then explore the city by bike and take advantage of the few cycle paths.

See

Cathédrale Saint-Pierre

• 1 Cathedral Saint Pierre. This cathedral built in Gothic style, features the world's tallest vault; but as a very tall central tower collapsed in the 16th century, the building was not finished. Beauvais Cathedral and its clocks brings tourists from all over Europe. A sound and light show, "Beauvais, the Infinite Cathedral", runs from July to September, at nightfall. (updated Sep 2015)
• 2 Musée départemental de l'Oise, 1 rue du musée, ☏ +33 3 44 10 40 50. Daily 11:00-18:00 except Tuesdays and certain holidays: Easter Monday; 1 May; Pentecost Monday; 11 November; 25 December; 1 January. This museum is housed in a former Bishop's palace. (updated Nov 2017)

Église Saint-Étienne

• 3 Église Saint-Étienne (Saint-Étienne Church), Rue de l'Étamine. An example of the transition between Romanesque and Gothic art. (updated Jan 2017)
• MUDO-Musée de l'Oise in the palace of the bishops-counts of Beauvais.
• Remains of the Saint-Barthélemy collegiate church and ruins of the Gallo-Roman ramparts.
• Town Hall and Place Jeanne Hachette: these are two important places in the city. Jeanne Hachette is an integral part of the history of the city and is to be discovered, especially during the festivals of the same name.
• Le Quadrilatère- National Tapestry Gallery

Do

• Plan D'Eau du Canada (Canada Lake): boats, beach, snacks
• Plan d'eau du Canada: a large body of water at the exit of the city, it offers boats and a beach that has been labelled European Blue Flag for several years.
• See a film, a concert, or a show.
• Fly the Fouga Magister fighter jet. A unique jet fighter ride from Beauvais airport, you can fly on Fouga Magister, the former French patrol plane. Approximately €1,950 (2016)
• Aquaspace, an aquatic complex, which includes slides, spa, and a pool for diving.
• Parc Marcel-Dassault: a relaxation area surrounded by nature, with themed gardens.
• Speedpark leisure centre: indoor karting, bowling, video games, billiards, laser.
• Go karting at the Espace Karting Centre in Rochy-Condé.
• Parc Saint Paul, a large amusement park for the whole family.
• Parc de Saint-Léger Grands Félins: shows, activities, big cats and other animals.

Concerts

Many concerts are organized throughout the year: in addition to concerts in bars, the Elispace is Beauvais' large concert hall (4400 seats). L'Ouvre Boite, with 600 seats, is the most active concert hall in Beauvais. The period of the year when concerts are most frequent is during the "Blues Autour du Zinc", in March, a festival where the Magic Mirror is installed for the occasion, on the Place du Jeu de Paume.

Festivals

• In March, "Blues around Zinc",
• In April, "Film Festival",
• In May, "Cello Ensembles Meetings",
• In June, "Fêtes Jeanne-Hachette",
• From July to September, "The Infinite Cathedral",
• In July and August, "Scènes de l'Eté", "Malices et Merveilles", "Beach Beauvais" and "Canada Beach",
• From September to November, "Photaumnales",
• In December, "Féeries de Noël".

Buy

Shops include Promod, Galeries Lafayette, C&S, Jules, Maisons du Monde, Aubert, Camaieu, Celio Club, Decathlon, Devred, Etam, Jennyfer, Kiabi, M&S, and Okaidi.

The Auchan shopping centre is the largest in the city.

The Place du Jeu de Paume is a shopping centre with 86 shops and restaurants.

Eat

Some good restaurants at fairly low prices: "Bistrot du Boucher", "Le Touco", "Le Comptoir Saint-Etienne", "'Auberge de la Meule", "Le Zinc Bleu".

There are all types of restaurants in Beauvais:

• many Chinese restaurants, including the largest, with its buffet, the Royal d'Allonne
• several Japanese restaurants -
• several pizzerias including Nino, the best in Beauvais (Rue du 27 Juin)
• creperies

Drink

The five best bars are real institutions in Beauvais.

• L'After Hours, a bar that has existed for more than 20 years, a real Irish pub where the quality of beer and whiskey is privileged. Concerts on Saturday.
• Le Wallabies, Australian bar/restaurant with impressive decor.
• Le Touco, one of the favourite events for young people, where you can nibble on Texan and Mexican specialties. Theme evenings.
• La Part des Anges, lively wine bar, with aperitif snacks.
• Le Chaudron Baveur, place de l'Hôtel Dieu, where you can enjoy concerts every weekend, thanks to groups from all over the world.

The best known nightclub is Le Bugatti, with its three rooms with different atmospheres. The VIP has two rooms and a large smoking area.

Sleep

All the major hotel chains are represented: the cheapest are the F1 and the Première Classe. Two cheap independent hotels in the city centre are “Hôtel du Palais” and “Hôtel du Cygne”. In Beauvaisis you can find a few rooms, with or without breakfast, at the inhabitant, between €30 and 60 per night, and rooms of the Airbnb network, between €30 and 50.

The only "Camping de la Trye" is in Bresles, between town and nature. The Beauvais motorhome area (20 pitches) is free. There is no youth hostel.