Just 1h20 from Paris, Saint-Quentin, sub-prefecture of the Aisne (France), offers a getaway rich in discovery. With its Art Deco architecture, museums and historic spaces, this Town of Art and History is a perfect destination for a weekend or day out.
What to do in Saint-Quentin ? What are the must-see visits? Follow the guide!
Summary
Saint-Quentin in brief : practical information
How to get there ? Approximately 1h20 from Paris, or 1h40 from Lille, Saint-Quentin is very easily accessible by train. Several trains (TER and Ouigo) run throughout the day from Paris gare du Nord or Lille Flandres.
When to go ? Saint-Quentin can be visited all year round. Spring and summer are the ideal times to enjoy the parks and cultural events. Autumn offers magnificent colours, while winter allows you to discover the city from another angle, with its Christmas atmosphere.
For whom For everyone! There are several activities suitable for young and old alike.
How to get around ? It’s a human-sized town that’s easy to discover on foot. Allow 15 minutes to walk from the station to Place de l’Hôtel de Ville. A bus network ” Pastel ” serves the whole town for €1.3 a journey. Find out more
How long to stay One day is enough to discover the main points of interest. You can also spend a weekend there to take more of your time and not miss a thing!
The history of Saint-Quentin
Founded in Roman times as Augusta Viromanduorum (The August of the Viromandui, in honour of the emperor Augustus and in reference to the Viromandui, a Belgian people who occupied the region, the town became a prosperous textile centre in the Middle Ages. It was invaded in the 16th century, but enjoyed a renaissance in the 18th century. In the 19th century, Saint-Quentin became a major industrial town.
The First World War had a profound effect on the city. 70% destroyed, it was rebuilt in the 1920s with remarkable Art Deco architecture that is still largely visible today. Some 3,000 Art Deco buildings were constructed between the wars.
The city’s development picked up again in the 1950s thanks to the “Trente glorieuses ” and the textile and mechanical engineering industries, but strong competition from developing countries brought the city’s economic activity to a halt.
Over the last fifteen years or so, Saint-Quentin has undergone a profound transformation. Transformed and embellished, it is now a pleasant town full of charm.
What to do in Saint-Quentin? 6 must-sees
Stroll through the city amidst Art Deco architecture
Leave Google map in your pocket and dare to get lost in the town ! The town centre of Saint-Quentin was largely destroyed during the First World War and rebuilt in the 1920’s. The Art Deco style houses are numerous so go from one street to another and especially look up to enjoy the show !
Entering the basilica
It’s impossible to miss! The basilica of Saint-Quentin dominates the town. Built between the 12thth and 15thth centuries in honour of Saint-Quentin, a martyr of the 3rdth century, this basilica is the second-largest Gothic church in Hauts-de-France.
Don’t miss its floor labyrinth : along with Chartres Cathedral and Bayeux Cathedral, Saint-Quentin Basilica is one of the last to have preserved its original labyrinth meant to allow the faithful to make a symbolic pilgrimage.
Visit the Palais de l’Art déco
Built between 1922 and 1927, the ” Palais de l’Art déco ” was once a department store. With its wrought iron railings, painted stucco decorations and concrete structure, it is one of the finest examples of French art deco heritage.
Alas, this slightly over-ambitious architectural project failed to find its audience and the shops have long since closed their doors, leaving the Palais derelict. Pending a project to restore / reuse the building, currently under study, the ground floor hosts an exhibition space that allows visitors to admire the beauty of the place.
Currently and until 21 September 2025, the Palais de l’Art déco is celebrating the centenary of the 1925 International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts with the exhibition ” Elegance and modernity. Art déco is 100 years old ! ” which allows visitors to rediscover this artistic movement and its influence on our cultural heritage through more than 300 works and objects, demonstrating the diversity of this movement.
Exhibition dates:Until 21 September 2025
Address: 14 rue de la Sellerie
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 2pm to 6pm
Prices: €8 / Reduced rate: €5 / free for under-18s and residents of Saint-Quentin
Keep your eyes peeled!
Access to the Palais de l’Art Déco is via the Espace Saint-Jacques, where the Chamber of Commerce was once located. The neo-Gothic building, constructed in 1927, is a marvel to behold, so take the opportunity to admire its architecture! On the same site, you can also visit the Butterfly Museum.
Going to the Antoine Lecuyer Fine Arts Museum
Following on from the exhibition at the Palais de l’Art déco, the Musée des Beaux-Arts Antoine Lecuyer is paying tribute to Gaston Suisse (1896-1988), painter, draughtsman, decorator and lacquerer, a major figure in the Art déco movement. The exhibition runs until 21 September 2025.
Exhibition dates:Until 21 September 2025
Address: 28 rue Antoine Lécuyer
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 2pm to 6pm, Wednesday and Saturday 10:30am to 12:30pm
Prices: €5 / Reduced rate: €2.5 / free for under 18s.
Discover the hidden gems of Saint-Quentin
Some of Saint-Quentin’s most beautiful places can only be discovered on guided tours, bookable at the tourist office. This is particularly true of the Town Hall Council Chamber, the Casino (a theatre restored around ten years ago) as well as the Buffet de la Gare, a sumptuous room that once welcomed travellers.
Take a nature break in the Parc d’Isle
Saint-Quentin has no shortage of green spaces, but the Parc d’Isle is the lungs of the town. Covering around 100 hectares, it features a public garden, a wildlife park and a national nature reserve. It’s the ideal place for a peaceful stroll, where you’ll come across a host of animals.
It’s also a very popular place for children, with its farmhouse of domestic animals and its various exhibition areas providing an educational introduction to nature and the environment.
Interactive map
Find all the addresses mentioned in this article on this map:
Where to sleep in Saint-Quentin? Find a hotel
To spend a night in Saint-Quentin, I recommend staying in the city centre it will allow you to be close to restaurants but also to be able to do a lot of sightseeing on foot.
Find the list of available establishments, as well as their rates, on the dates of your stay :
Affiliate link
Saint-Quentin awaits you for a discovery combining heritage, culture and nature so don’t hesitate any longer to go and explore this pearl of the Hauts-de-France !
No Comments
Leave a comment Cancel