But with spires reaching toward the sky, magnificent sculptures and colorful stained glass, these gothic buildings will leave you wondering how in the heck they were able to construct such magnificent structures.
Apart from the beauty of their architecture, these cathedrals also attest to the power of Christianity in medieval France. I hereby present you a top 10 list of the most beautiful and spectacular French cathedrals. There is more information below the slideshow. Think I missed one? Share your favorite French cathedral in the comments section , or take my poll below! It is one of the great masterpieces of Gothic art and is admired for its proportions and the unity of its design, combining masterly management of space with harmonious proportions and decoration of the highest quality.
The tympanum, sculptures and stained-glass windows are particularly striking. First built as a fortress begun in and under construction for years, it is claimed to be the largest brick building in the world. The monument is a testament to the power of the Roman Catholic church following the successful suppression of the Cathar heretics.
It replaced a Romanesque cathedral that had been heavily damaged by fire in and partially repaired before a complete renewal was decided.
Laon cathedral is known for its imposing towers, its early gothic architecture, and its importance as a major stop on the medieval pilgrimage route to Santiago in Spain. In spite of later rebuilding, an earthquake, and the First World War, Laon cathedral remains one of the best examples of an early gothic cathedral in France. Of particular note are its fine medieval stained glass windows. Well off the tourist trail. Iconic medieval cathedral, insofar as it was started in the early gothic style, but completed in late gothic style, thus showing the evolution of gothic architecture over two centuries.
Notably famous for its remarkable stained-glass windows. Notre Dame de Paris. The most visited of all France's great gothic cathedrals. It is sometimes necessary to queue to get in. Extensively restored in the nineteenth century. Seriously damaged by fire in April , and currently closed for renovation.
The widest of the great French gothic cathedrals, with five aisles most cathedrals just have three. Bourges cathedral is one of the purest of French gothic cathedrals, having been largely built in the space of just 35 years. The towers are later. Off the tourist trail. Fine stained glass windows. The largest of the great French gothic cathedrals, with an internal volume of over , m3, and a height under the valut of over 40 metres.
The first stone was laid in Despite many years of traveling to France, I still can't help but marvel at the towering Gothic churches that mark the heart of many French cities. The Gothic style of architecture, primarily employed in churches, evolved in medieval France as a way to give interior spaces a better-lit, more upward-reaching feel than the dark, heavy Romanesque architecture that preceded it.
As French urban life grew more stable, churches didn't need to be so fortress-like — and engineering innovations allowed architects to built airier, vertical churches that seemed to stretch heavenward, their walls given over to windows to allow maximum illumination.
Newly pointed arches allowed churches to grow higher and more dramatic on the outside while making space for colorful stained-glass windows on the inside. Counterweight "flying buttresses" — stone arches that reach up from the ground to push back inward on relatively weak external walls, thereby supporting the roof — go even farther in making the interior of giant stone buildings feel almost weightless.
While it will be some time before visitors can once again take in France's most famous Gothic wonder, Paris' Notre-Dame cathedral, there are plenty other magnificent Gothic cathedrals sprinkled across the country like jeweled pins on a map. I like to imagine what it was like to be a pilgrim years ago, hiking for days to a particular church on a particular holy day — and feeling the awe when the soaring spire of the cathedral finally appeared on the horizon.
Nowadays you can hop on a train in Paris and, for example, arrive in just over an hour in Chartres, home of the cathedral that is arguably Europe's best example of pure Gothic. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Your email address will not be shared with others!
Email Address. Amiens Cathedral [1 hr 36 min] Amiens is considered the largest cathedral in France. Read more… Choir Screen Detail View. St-Maurice Cathedral Tapestry. Beauvais Cathedral. Chartres Cathedral Stained Glass. Stained glass windows by Chagall. Rouen Cathedral Spires.
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