While the Cathédrale Saint-Pierre overshadows everything else in Beauvais, the church of Saint-Étienne is worth a separate visit. It stands about 500 metres southwest of the cathedral and spans several centuries of building: the nave and transept are Romanesque, dating from the 12th century, while the choir is a fine example of Flamboyant Gothic construction added in the 16th century.
The church is particularly notable for its stained glass. The Romanesque wheel window in the west end is one of the oldest surviving examples in France, and the choir windows — a sequence of early 16th-century glass depicting biblical scenes — are considered among the best of their period in northern France. They survived the 1940 bombing, having been removed for safekeeping before the German attack, and were reinstalled after the war.
Entry is free. The church is usually open during the day; check the door for current hours.