The most beautiful cathedrals in France

Travel to France at the meeting gems of French architecture

1. Our Lady of Chartres

It is the best preserved Gothic cathedral of France, it is also world heritage of UNESCO.

ND Chartres is famous for its labyrinth that refers to the history of Teresa and the Minotaur.

Traces of the first cathedral of Chartres date back to the late sixth century, there will be many religious buildings to be built and destroyed in turn, the current cathedral was built between 1194 and very quickly in 1230.

It was between 1506 and 1513 that will be built the spire of the cathedral that points to 115 meters high.

2. Our Lady of Strasbourg

Strasbourg Cathedral shrouded in fog

Strasbourg Cathedral in the distinction of having been built with the sandstone of the Vosges. 
The Vosges sandstone is slightly pink stone which gives a very special character to this cathedral.

The Cathedral was completed in 1884. It measures 151 meters high. This is the second tallest cathedral in France after Rouen.

Strasbourg Cathedral view from the rooftops

3. Our Lady of Paris

Notre Dame de Paris

The construction of the Notre-Dame de Paris was spread over two centuries. This is also why it is said that his style is at the crossroads between different influences sometimes a primitive style, gothic or beaming.

This is probably the most famous cathedral in the world. "It came time cathedrals ..."

The Paris cathedral at night

4. Notre-Dame de Reims

Reims Cathedral

This is undoubtedly the Cathedral which is the most advanced on an architectural plan. Apart from its Gothic style quite majestic façade of the building has more than 2,300 statues. Making it the most complete cathedral in Europe.

Note that the cathedral still has a lot of stained glass dating from the thirteenth century.

Point significant, each year 1.5 million visitors flock to admire this jewel of Gothic architecture which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1991 humanity.

5. Our Lady of the Assumption Rouen

Courtyard view and the arrow on the Rouen Cathedral

When the Cathedral was completed in 1876, it is the tallest building in the world, the boom then rises to 151 meters high. 
Rouen Cathedral is considered the most human of cathedrals. It is also one of the most famous through 28 paintings Monet effected. Today these paintings are scattered throughout the world and are a strong public relations network.

Rouen Cathedral in the late afternoon

The beautiful cathedral of Rouen in black and white

6. Our Lady of Amiens

This is the largest cathedral in France to share its interior volumes, nearly 200,000 m3. 
You can admire on the facade, rose window 11 meters in diameter true architectural challenge.

7. Saint-Cecile Albi

This cathedral has the distinction of being the world's largest brick cathedral. 
It has had just over a century for the cathedral is completed. Work began in 1282 and ended in 1390.

Although the exterior of the Cathedral of Albi is quite austere, this contrasts sharply with its interior which is full of works as pictorial as sculptural.

8. The Saint-Etienne cathedral of Metz

Metz Cathedral

Сette imposing architectural work only measures 88 meters high, but because it is built on a small rocky promontory, giving it a majestic and imposing side. 
The construction of the cathedral is a building succession between 1220 and 1522.

Its particularity is to have a large glass surface. It was this luminosity that is nicknamed the Metz Cathedral "lantern of God".

Note that this cathedral was renovated in the early twentieth century and it was cleaned in 1995 and 2012.

Saint-Etienne de Metz is the most visited monument in the city and was privileged to receive the Pope John Paul II October 10, 1988.

The beautiful Metz Cathedral

Metz cathedral is one of the most beautiful in France

9. The Saint-Etienne cathedral of Bourges

The cathedral was built between the late twelfth (1195 exactly) and the end of the thirteenth century. 
It was historical monument by the French State in 1862 and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage of Humanity in 1992.

Bourges Cathedral is not as famous as the cathedrals of Reims, Rouen, Strasbourg or Paris, though its precursor style, harmonious proportions, sculptures and stained glass make this religious building an unusual monument.

This cathedral was the first Gothic building built in the south of the Loire.

Note that in 1313 the South Tower begins to show signs of weakness that is why the south tower never received bell and that is why we call the south tower, turn a deaf. 
The north tower was completed in 1480 and it collapsed on December 31 1506. It was rebuilt between 1508 and 1542.

In 1562 during the war of religions, Protestants seized the city of Bourges, the sculptures will then be largely damaged.

Architecture:

The Bourges Cathedral plan resumes in part that of the cathedral ND Paris. A hypothesis is advanced, the similarity of these two monuments comes perhaps family ties that united while Henri de Sully, archbishop of Bourges and Eudes de Sully, bishop of Paris ... 
On the other hand the Viscount of Bourges enters the royal field in 1101, this could explain the similarities between the two cathedrals.

10. The Cathedral Saint-Pierre de Beauvais

It all began in 1225 when the old cathedral was completely destroyed by fire. Instead of rebuilding the then bishop decides to build a new Cathedral. When the work is ordered the word is launched, it drevra be the biggest and boldest of all Christendom.

Construction work will begin around 1230. But then in 1284 the new building collapses, repairs will be spread between the late thirteenth century and early fourteenth century.

In the sixteenth century the transept and the lantern tower were built. The spire of the cathedral then reaches 150 meters high. But a collapse occurs in 1573 ... The work of reconstruction and stabilization are then undertaken.

The money starts to run out and the cathedral will remain unfinished, in October 1793, the French Revolution hints not sparing since the cathedral was looted and ransacked. The statues were decapitated head. In the nineteenth century improvement projects are still not undertaken, which preserves a part of the cathedral dating from the 10th century.

In 1878 an astronomical clock is installed in the Cathedral.

Photo credits: Overnight stopover - Yann VE