The Abbey of Saint-Riquier was founded around 625 and later came under royal protection with King Dagobert I. In 790 it became a major center of the Carolingian Empire when Charlemagne appointed his close friend, Angilbert, as abbot.

At the end of the 9th century, the abbey was destroyed by Norman invaders. Over the centuries, it suffered more than fifteen pillages and devastations. Yet, always rebuilt and enriched, the abbey remained an important religious and theological center.

After the Revolution, the convent buildings were for a time turned into quarries, then later housed hospitals or seminaries. The entire site was purchased in 1972 by the Department of the Somme and became a cultural center.

The church reveals a stylistic diversity, featuring elements of early, classical, and flamboyant gothic. The 15th-century façade - richly sculpted - is dominated by a central tower rising to 50 meters.