Open-air escape game resolves the mystery of the Amiens cathedral fire

It is possible to play it in the French city in August and September

For the past year and a half, the cultural heritage of France has suffered heavily, with the main victims being two of the country’s gothic cathedrals. In April 2019 a serious fire ravaged the iconic Notre-Dame de Paris with the reasons remaining unknown to this day. The cathedral in Nantes followed suit last month, which was proven to be a deliberate act.

However, those events are not a recent phenomenon, related to the ageing of the buildings and the wear and tear of construction materials. Foreign invasions, wars and accidents have reduced to ashes cathedrals and forced their reconstructions over the centuries.

In the footsteps of the criminal

The Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Amiens in the north of France is no exception. Erected between 1220 and 1288, the cathedral saw its chapels burn only decades after the start of its construction.

Now, the cultural heritage preservation service in the city wants to educate the population on the history of the remarkable monument with an open-air escape game throughout the summer. This will be organized in a fun and attractive way while fully respecting the sanitary rules related to Covid-19.

The service invites visitors to an immersive experience, aiming to resolve the mystery of a fire that took place in 1258. Players will have the chance to go back to the Middle Ages and assume various roles – a builder, a tavern keeper, a priest, an alderman or a minstrel – and discover who the guilty one was.

How to play

Between 3 and 5 people over the age of 13 can play the game together, upon preliminary reservation. The dates available are as follows: on Fridays, 21, 28 August and 4, 11 September; on Saturdays, 8, 22, 29 August and 5, 12 September. The time slots are at 11:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

Tickets must be purchased. More information is available at 03 22 22 58 90 or patrimoine@amiens-metropole.com.