Dewailly Clock, Amiens

Statue in Amiens

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Zairon

The Dewailly Clock is an outdoor public clock in central Amiens, near Place Gambetta and the city's main pedestrian streets. Designed by architect Émile Ricquier in the late 19th century, it combines an ornate iron column, three clock faces, and a bronze allegorical statue by Albert Roze.

The monument matters less for scale than for local character. Visitors notice the floral metalwork, the figure of Le Printemps, and the nickname Marie sans chemise, which has stayed part of Amiens’ everyday memory. It is best for walkers, photographers, and visitors who enjoy small civic monuments with a specific story.

History and Significance
Things to See and Do
How to Get to the Dewailly Clock
Where to Stay Close
Is the Dewailly Clock Worth Visiting?
Practical Tips on Visiting the Dewailly Clock
FAQs for Visiting the Dewailly Clock

History and Significance

A Public Clock for Amiens

The clock takes its name from Louis Dewailly, a former mayor of Amiens who left money to the city for a public timepiece. At a time when many residents did not own watches, the project had a practical purpose as well as a civic one.

Émile Ricquier, also associated with the Cirque Jules Verne, designed the clock in 1896. His column used decorative ironwork with scrolls and floral detail, while the three clock faces made the time visible from several directions.

Le Printemps and Marie sans chemise

In 1898, sculptor Albert Roze added the bronze figure known as Le Printemps. The statue’s pose and light clothing led to the local nickname Marie sans chemise, a name that helped make the monument part of Amiens’ everyday language.

The statue outlasted the original setting. After wartime damage and later removal of the clock structure, the bronze figure survived and became the key original element in the later reconstruction.

Reconstruction in 1999

The clock seen today is a faithful late-20th-century reconstruction rather than the complete 19th-century original. It was reinstalled in 1999, close to its earlier position, returning a familiar city landmark to the centre of Amiens.

This mix of original sculpture and recreated structure is part of the site's interest. It reflects both the losses Amiens suffered in the 20th century and the city's decision to restore a small but recognisable piece of its streetscape.

Things to See and Do

The main reason to stop is to look closely at the clock as an object, not just pass it on the way to larger sights. Stand back far enough to see the three clock faces, the tall iron column, and the bronze figure together, then move closer to pick out the decorative metalwork around the shaft.

I would also take a moment to circle the monument, because the statue reads differently depending on the angle and light. In the evening, the clock faces and metalwork can feel more defined, while daylight gives better detail on the figure of Le Printemps.

The stop works well as a pause between the cathedral area, the shopping streets, and the route toward Saint-Leu. There is no interior to enter and no formal visit to structure, so treat it as a short urban detail rather than a main activity.

How to Get to the Dewailly Clock

Amiens has no major commercial airport; Paris Beauvais Airport is the closest practical option, while Paris Charles de Gaulle offers broader international connections. For the best deals and a seamless booking experience, check out these flights to Amiens on Booking.com.

Amiens station has regional rail links, including direct TER services from Paris Gare du Nord, and the clock is a short walk through the centre. You can use SNCF Connect to check schedules, compare routes, and purchase tickets for National (SNCF ) and regional trains (TER). For a more streamlined experience, we recommend using Omio, which allows you to easily compare prices, schedules, and book tickets for both National and Regional travel across all of Europe, all in one place.

If arriving by car, use central parking such as Parking des Jacobins or Parking du Perret and walk, since the streets around the monument are better handled on foot. If you are looking to rent a car in France I recommend having a look at Discover Cars, first, as they compare prices and review multiple car rental agencies for you.

Where to Stay Close

For most visitors, the best base is central Amiens between the cathedral, the station, and the pedestrian streets, especially if the trip is focused on culture and short walks rather than driving. This area keeps the Dewailly Clock, Notre-Dame Cathedral, restaurants, and Saint-Leu within easy reach.

Mercure Amiens Cathedrale Hotel works well for travelers who want to stay close to the cathedral and the older centre. Hotel Marotte suits visitors looking for a more independent central hotel with private parking available for an extra charge. ibis Styles Amiens Centre is a practical choice for train arrivals, with a location close to Amiens station and the city centre.

Is the Dewailly Clock Worth Visiting?

The Dewailly Clock is worth a short stop if you are already walking through central Amiens, especially if you like civic monuments, Art Nouveau detail, or small pieces of local memory. It is not a priority if you have very limited time and are choosing between major sights, because the visit usually takes only a few minutes and there is no interior, exhibition, or ticketed experience.

What Other Travellers Say...

Reviews Summary

4.2 (253)

Espace Dewailly, at 3 Place Louis Dewailly in Amiens, is a well-maintained municipal venue featuring a lovely cloister, pleasant functional rooms and a large amphitheater used for cultural and social events; visitors praise its Harry Potter–style interior, enjoy summer festivals and special events like craft beer tastings where admission can be free and samples are sold, and note the site is worth viewing from the courtyard on Rue Frédéric Petit; open Monday to Friday 8:00–17:30, closed weekends.

Kathie HUGO

2 years ago

"Superb venue. We were there for "Amiens Met la Presse" (Amiens Puts the Pressure on). Several French craft breweries offer beer tastings. You can buyand take away the ones you've discovered and many others. There are also two refreshment points. Have a great afternoon! Take a look around. Free admission. A glass for tastings is €2. Each tasting is €1.50...."

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johnhouston2

2 years ago

"The “naked Mary” clock is situated in the centre of the city between Place Gambetta and the Cathedral. It was constructed in the 19th century andcombines some fabulous engineering with over the top zany artistry. Think “clock builder meets artist on speed” and you get the picture. Well worth a look...."

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AlissaN.

7 months ago

"Superb Harry Potter-style space in the city of Amiens 😍"

StephenCr0ss

2 years ago

"Located close for the Notre Damme Cathedral this is a very ornate structure that is about 15 ft high. The decoration is great."

Seb Gdlr

9 months ago

"A beautiful building with a lovely cloister. The site housed a few dilapidated and aging lecture halls before a lovely renovation. Several rooms anda large amphitheater now host the municipality's cultural, social, and other events. The building is also worth a look from the courtyard on Rue Frédéric Petit...."

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ange danette

3 years ago

"A superb summer festival. A top-notch lineup, thank you to the organizers! A true journey into the joy and warm atmosphere of summer. Keep delightingus like this every year ☀️ 🌴🎶🙏..."

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Practical Tips on Visiting the Dewailly Clock

Best time to visit: Early morning is quieter, while late afternoon and evening give softer light on the bronze statue and ironwork.
How long to spend: Allow 10 to 20 minutes, or a little longer if you want photos from several angles.
Accessibility: The monument stands in a central pedestrian area and can be viewed from street level without steps.
Facilities: There are no dedicated visitor facilities at the clock, but cafés, shops, and public services are nearby in the city centre.

FAQs for Visiting the Dewailly Clock

Getting There

The Dewailly Clock stands in central Amiens near Place Gambetta and the main pedestrian streets, within easy walking distance of the cathedral area.

From the cathedral area, walk south-west through the central streets toward Place Gambetta. The route is short, mostly urban, and easy to add to a wider city-centre stroll.

Walk west from Amiens station through the centre toward Place Gambetta. The route usually takes about 10 minutes, depending on pace and exact starting point.

There is central parking in Amiens, including Parking des Jacobins and Parking du Perret, but driving just for the clock is not necessary. It works better as part of a walk around the centre.

Tickets & Entry

The clock is an outdoor monument, so viewing it from the street is free. There is no interior or ticketed area connected to the clock itself.

No booking is needed. You can stop by at any time while walking through the centre of Amiens.

Because it stands outdoors, the clock can be viewed year-round. Seasonal opening hours do not apply to seeing the monument from the street.

Visiting Experience

Ten minutes is enough for a look and a few photos. Add more time only if you enjoy studying sculpture and decorative metalwork.

Yes, but only as a brief stop between larger sights. Prioritise the cathedral, Saint-Leu, or the hortillonnages first, then include the clock if your route passes nearby.

Combine it with Notre-Dame Cathedral, the central shopping streets, and the walk toward Saint-Leu. This creates a compact route with little backtracking.

It is best in dry weather because the visit is entirely outdoors. In rain, treat it as a quick look while moving between covered stops such as cafés, shops, or museums.

Tours, Context & Itineraries

It may appear on city-centre routes because of its location and local story, but it is usually a short stop rather than the focus of a tour.

A guide can add useful context about Louis Dewailly, Émile Ricquier, and Albert Roze, but most visitors can see the clock independently in a few minutes.

Photography

Yes, especially if you like urban details, sculpture, and decorative ironwork. The best images usually frame the statue and clock faces together rather than shooting only the column.

Early morning gives fewer people in the surrounding streets, while late afternoon can bring warmer light on the bronze and metalwork.

There are no special restrictions for normal personal photography from the street. Be considerate of pedestrians and nearby terraces when framing shots.

Accessibility & Facilities

The clock can be viewed from the surrounding pedestrian area at street level. Nearby paving and crowds may affect ease of movement at busy times.

There are no dedicated restrooms, ticket desk, or visitor facilities at the monument. Use nearby cafés, shops, or public facilities in the city centre.

Yes, as a quick outdoor stop. Children may not find it engaging for long, but strollers can usually approach the area without difficulty.

Food & Breaks Nearby

The surrounding central streets and the route toward Saint-Leu have cafés and casual restaurants. For a more atmospheric break, continue toward the canal-side streets of Saint-Leu.

Safety & Timing

The clock sits in a central area that is generally suitable for an evening walk, especially when shops and cafés are active. Use normal city awareness if visiting late, and keep to lit streets.

The Dewailly Clock appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Amiens!

Moira & Andy

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