Surrounded by wooded and agricultural land, the town of Noyon has 28 hectares of parks, squares and gardens contributing to the well-being of its inhabitants. It is a city in the countryside where life is good, offering an extremely interesting human-scale living and development environment. Noyon, a city of Saint Eloi and Jean Calvin, has been labelled a City of Art and History by the Ministry of Culture and Communication since 1998. This label is a national recognition for the work undertaken by the City to enhance its heritage. This label also guarantees the competence of the tour guides. The architecture and heritage coordinator coordinates the initiatives of Noyon, City of Art and History. The Heritage Animation service offers activities for schools and visits for tourist groups throughout the year. The winter and summer programs are aimed at local and visiting individuals and all curious to discover a city of 2000 years of history. Nearby, Amiens, Beauvais, Chantilly, Laon, Saint-Quentin and Soissons enjoy the appellation Ville d'art et d'histoire.