Tour Perret, Amiens

Tower in Amiens

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Bfauvergue

Tour Perret in Amiens is a post-war reinforced-concrete tower standing beside the city's main railway station on Place Alphonse Fiquet. Designed by Auguste Perret and completed in 1952, it forms a sharp modern counterpoint to Amiens' medieval cathedral and older streets.

The tower matters because it reflects the city’s reconstruction after World War II and Perret’s belief that concrete could be both structural and expressive. Visitors mainly view it from outside, noticing its height, clean vertical rhythm, and the glass light feature at the top. It suits architecture fans, train arrivals with a few spare minutes, and anyone tracing the city’s 20th-century layers.

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

History and Significance

Post-war reconstruction

The Tour Perret grew out of Amiens' reconstruction after World War II, when the railway district needed a new urban plan. Auguste Perret, already known for his work with reinforced concrete, designed the tower as a modern marker for the rebuilt station area.

Construction began in 1949 and the building was completed in 1952. At about 104 metres originally, it became one of France’s earliest 100-metre high-rise buildings and a striking departure from the lower streets around it.

A concrete landmark

Perret’s design uses a strict geometric structure, with a strong base and a taller vertical shaft of apartments and offices. The tower shows his approach clearly: structure, rhythm, and material are not hidden behind decoration.

The building did not immediately become an easy commercial success, partly because its modern format and costs made it unusual for Amiens at the time. Later refurbishment helped it settle into its role as a residential and office building rather than a public monument.

The Sablier de lumière

In 2005, the tower received the glass feature known as the Sablier de lumière, or Hourglass of Light, designed by Thierry Van de Wyngaert. This addition raised the visual height to about 110 metres and gave the tower a more noticeable night-time presence.

The illuminated top is now one of the details many visitors remember most. It also softens the tower’s severe concrete profile, especially when seen from the station square after dark.

Things to See and Do

The main thing to do is stand on Place Alphonse Fiquet, in front of Amiens station, and look at the tower as part of the station ensemble. I'd start there because the square gives the clearest sense of its height, symmetry, and role as a city marker for people arriving by train.

Look up to the Sablier de lumière at the top, especially in the evening when the glass feature becomes more visible. Casual visitors often photograph only the full tower, but the contrast between the heavy concrete shaft and the lighter glass crown is the detail that explains why the building still draws attention.

This is not a place for a long visit. Treat it as a short architectural stop before continuing toward the cathedral, the shopping streets, Saint-Leu, or the Hortillonnages.

How to Get to the Tour Perret

The nearest useful airports are Paris-Beauvais and Paris Charles de Gaulle, both of which require onward road or rail travel to Amiens. For the best deals and a seamless booking experience, check out these flights to Amiens on Booking.com.

Amiens station has regular regional train connections, including services from Paris Gare du Nord, and the tower stands directly outside the station square. 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.

Drivers can use central paid parking around the station area, though this stop is easiest on foot if you are already in the city centre. 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 the station-to-cathedral corridor, which keeps train links, the Tour Perret, the cathedral, restaurants, and central streets within an easy walk. ibis Styles Amiens Centre works well if you want to stay almost at the foot of the tower and close to the station, with good walkability for a short city break.

If the cathedral and historic centre matter more than immediate station access, Hotel Mercure Amiens Cathedrale puts you closer to the main medieval sights while still within walking distance of Tour Perret. Travelers watching budget or arriving late by train can consider ibis budget Amiens Centre Gare, which is practical for transport links and a simple overnight stay.

Is the Tour Perret Worth Visiting?

The Tour Perret is worth a short stop, especially if you are arriving by train, interested in post-war architecture, or want to understand the modern layer of Amiens. It is less essential if you prefer interiors, panoramic viewpoints, or older monuments, because the building is privately used and the visit is exterior only. For most travelers, it works best as a 15-20 minute detour rather than a main attraction.

What Other Travellers Say...

Reviews Summary

3.5 (219)

Perret Tower in Amiens stands opposite the train station and reads as a mid-20th-century reinforced concrete high-rise designed by Auguste Perret; visitors note its striking, modern profile that from some viewpoints can appear as tall as the nearby cathedral and serves as a focal point in the rebuilt city, forming a designed ensemble with the station's atrium and esplanade and appearing on local souvenirs and postcards.

claudia vago

6 months ago

"A towering modern tower, although from the road it's as tall as Amiens Cathedral and looks ancient. It's a focal point in the city. It faces thetrain station and forms a newly designed ensemble with the Gare's atrium and esplanade...."

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Mairwen1

10 months ago

"The Perret Tower is a good landmark in Amiens. It can be spotted some some distance and is located near the train station end of town (and our hotel)so we found it a useful way to orient ourselves. Designed by architect Auguste Perret in 1948, it has a wonderfully art-deco style about it. At first glance, it reminded us of a rocket, ready to launch into space. It was not hard to imagine that this was the kind of building King Kong would climb if he was in Amiens. For a long time, it was the highest skyscraper in Europe, Standing at 110 metres tall and with over 25 floors, it must have been impressive. Whilst those statistics hardly compare against Dubai’s Burj Khalifa (828 metres) or the Shanghai Tower (632 metres), it was considered a marvel of modern architecture in its day. NOTE: The Tower is privately owned and is no longer open to the public but its easy to see from the outside...."

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mireille hervé

4 months ago

"Residential and office building designed by architect Auguste Perret. This reinforced concrete tower and the surrounding block are identical to thosein Le Havre. The city was rebuilt by the same architect after World War II...."

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Trainbleu

a year ago

"Arriving at Amiens railway station on a bright autumn day, the first thing we saw was the high-rise Tour Perret. Maybe it was because the blue,white, and grey of the French train so perfectly matched the blue and white of the sky and the grey of the concrete building, but we immediately loved it. Except for the strange cube on the top, which somehow spoiled the sleek harmony of the tower. The tower was built in 1949 according to plans of French Auguste Perret (1874–1954), whose reconstruction of Le Havre was very controversial but, in the end, was declared UNESCO World Heritage. As the Tour Perret was not open to the public, we had to do with views from the outside...."

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Игорь А/С

a year ago

"The 110-meter Tour Perret is located opposite the Gare du Nord train station. In the mid-20th century, it was considered one of the tallestskyscrapers in Europe, but now it's just another high-rise, promoted as a tourist attraction on Amiens magnets and postcards...."

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johnhouston2

2 years ago

"Whether you like it or detest it, there is no escaping the fact that the Tour Perret is a historically significant building. Built in 1952 it was thefirst skyscraper built in France, and I guess that the locals still take some pride in that fact. As it’s a private building you obviously can’t go inside but although it might be considered ugly by some, the shape and style of it made me think of old Hollywood movies with plastic monsters attacking toy skyscrapers!n..."

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Practical Tips on Visiting the Tour Perret

Best time to visit: Early evening is the most rewarding time, when the tower is still visible and the Sablier de lumière begins to stand out. Daytime is better for seeing the concrete structure clearly.
How long to spend: Allow 15-30 minutes for viewing and photos from the station square. Add more time only if you are combining it with a broader walk through central Amiens.
Accessibility: The exterior view is from public streets and the station square, which are generally manageable for wheelchairs and strollers. The tower itself is not set up as a public visitor attraction.
Facilities: There are no dedicated visitor facilities for the tower. Use the railway station, nearby cafés, and central streets for restrooms, food, and shelter.

FAQs for Visiting the Tour Perret

Getting There

Tour Perret stands on Place Alphonse Fiquet, directly beside Amiens railway station in the city centre.

From the cathedral area, walk east through the central shopping streets toward the railway station. The tower is high enough to use as a visual marker for the final approach.

Exit the station toward Place Alphonse Fiquet and look up; the tower is immediately beside the station square.

There are paid parking options around the station area, but driving only for the tower is not usually necessary. It is better treated as part of a central walk.

Tickets & Entry

The exterior is free to view from the public square. There is no standard tourist ticket for entering or climbing the tower.

No. Since the normal visit is exterior viewing only, there is nothing to reserve for a quick stop.

The exterior can be seen year-round from public streets. The private building does not operate like a monument with regular visitor opening hours.

Visiting Experience

Fifteen minutes is enough to see it from the station square and take a few photos. Allow closer to half an hour if you want to compare different angles nearby.

Yes, but only as a brief stop. Prioritize the cathedral, Saint-Leu, and the Hortillonnages first, then include the tower if your route passes the station.

Start at the station and Tour Perret, continue toward the cathedral, then walk on to Saint-Leu or the riverside paths if you have more time.

Bad weather is not a major problem because the visit is short, but heavy rain makes lingering on the square less appealing. The station and nearby cafés give easy cover.

Tours, Context & Itineraries

Some architecture or city-centre routes mention it because of its role in post-war reconstruction. General sightseeing routes may only pass it near the station.

For most visitors, an independent stop is enough. A guide is useful only if you want deeper context on Auguste Perret, reinforced concrete, and the rebuilding of Amiens.

Photography

Yes, especially if you like architectural lines, height contrasts, and urban night shots. The station square gives the easiest full-height view.

Daylight works best for the concrete structure, while evening is better for the illuminated top. After rain, reflections in glass or wet paving can add interest.

Normal exterior photography from public space is fine. Avoid photographing private interiors, entrances, or residents in a way that intrudes on their privacy.

Accessibility & Facilities

The exterior viewpoint is accessible from the station square and surrounding pavements, though surfaces and crossings vary like in any city centre. The building itself is not a public attraction with visitor access.

No dedicated facilities are attached to the tower for visitors. Use the railway station or nearby cafés and restaurants instead.

Yes for a quick look from outside, particularly if you are already passing the station. It is not an activity that will occupy children for long.

Food & Breaks Nearby

The streets around Amiens station and the route toward the cathedral have cafés, bakeries, and casual restaurants. For a more atmospheric break, continue toward Saint-Leu.

Safety & Timing

The station square is a busy central area and is generally straightforward to visit in the evening. As around any railway station, keep an eye on bags and use well-lit routes after dark.

The Tour Perret appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Amiens!

Moira & Andy

Hey! We're Moira & Andy. From hiking the Camino to trips around Europe in Bert our campervan — we've been traveling together since retirement in 2020!

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