The 11 Most Beautiful Gothic Cathedrals Around the World
These medieval masterpieces were all about height, light, and emphasis on the heavenly
When you take a trip to Europe, you’ll inevitably encounter one of the hundreds of Gothic cathedrals that dot the landscape. Built during the 12th through 16th centuries, these medieval masterpieces were born out of Romanesque architecture, which saw churches designed with thick walls, round arches, and large towers. Gothic architecture, on the other hand, focused on height and light; despite being constructed from heavy stone, Gothic cathedrals seem to defy the laws of gravity. Common traits include pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses, all of which enabled the structures to be built taller and stronger. Here, we’ve rounded up 11 of the best examples of Gothic cathedrals.
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Photo: Richard Silver Photo/Getty Images1/11Notre-Dame de Paris (Paris, France)
Perhaps the most famous cathedral in the world, Notre-Dame de Paris, sits on the Île de la Cité in the heart of the French capital. Construction began in 1163 under Bishop Maurice de Sully and was largely completed by 1345, making it one of the finest examples of early Gothic architecture. In April 2019, the cathedral suffered a catastrophic fire that led to the collapse of its iconic spire and most of its roof, shocking the world and initiating a massive, global restoration effort. The cathedral has since reopened, though restoration is ongoing. Pro tip: Don’t miss a visit to the nearby Sainte-Chapelle, which has some of the most magnificent stained-glass windows in the world.
Photo: Olivier Djiann/Getty Images2/11Amiens Cathedral (Amiens, France)
Amiens Cathedral is the tallest completed cathedral in France, with its soaring vaulted ceiling reaching a height of nearly 139 feet. Construction on this masterpiece of High Gothic architecture commenced around 1220, succeeding a church destroyed by fire. Beyond its height, Amiens boasts the largest interior volume of any French cathedral: Its cavernous space spans 260,000 cubic yards, more than double the volume of Notre-Dame de Paris.
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Photo: Sylvain Sonnet/Getty Images3/11Reims Cathedral (Reims, France)
Reims Cathedral is the cathedral of the French monarchy; more than 30 coronations of French kings took place at this site, from Louis the Pious in 816 to Charles X in 1825. While an early church existed here as far back as 400 AD, construction on the current structure began in 1211. The cathedral is also famous for its 13th-century Smiling Angel sculpture, which was beheaded in a German bombing during World War I. It was then restored in 1926.
Photo: Bruce Yuanyue Bi4/11Basilica of Saint-Denis (Saint-Denis, France)
The Basilica of Saint-Denis is widely recognized as the first structure built in the Gothic style of architecture, which was dreamt up by Abbot Suger. Moving away from more typical Romanesque churches, Suger was inspired by light, and using architectural innovations of the time, he was able to introduce great height—and clerestory windows—to the cathedral during a reconstruction that began in 1135. Much of the basilica’s exterior was restored in the 19th century, when interest in medieval architecture surged across France, introducing the Gothic Revival movement. Historically, Saint-Denis served as the royal necropolis for France; the basilica houses the graves of all but three French monarchs.
Photo: Agence Images5/11Chartres Cathedral (Chartres, France)
One of the best-preserved Gothic buildings, Chartres Cathedral provides valuable insight into the architecture of the Middle Ages. Little of the cathedral has changed since the current structure’s completion in the early 13th century. For instance, of its 176 stained-glass windows, the majority are, remarkably, original (that includes the north rose window). Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, Chartres is a major pilgrimage site.
Photo: Doug Armand/Getty Images6/11Westminster Abbey (London, England)
Whereas the French monarchs have Reims Cathedral, the British monarchs have Westminster Abbey. Construction on the current cathedral began in 1245; it was ordered by King Henry III to serve as a grand royal church and his own final resting place. The Abbey has since become the definitive site for British coronations, as well as for many royal weddings, such as that of the Prince and Princess of Wales, better known as Prince William and Kate Middleton, in 2011.
Photo: Valery Egorov/Getty Images7/11Canterbury Cathedral (Kent, UK)
Canterbury Cathedral might just be the most infamous Christian structure in England, thanks to the notorious 12th-century murder of Archbishop Thomas Becket here by knights loyal to King Henry II. This event transformed the cathedral into one of Europe’s most important pilgrimage sites, as immortalized in Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales. The cathedral features a semicircular chapel known as the Corona, built specifically to house the shrine and relics of Becket after his canonization in 1173, three years following his death.
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Photo: Laurie Noble/Getty Images8/11Florence Cathedral (Florence, Italy)
Better known simply as the Duomo, Florence’s cathedral, or Santa Maria del Fiore, is an icon of the Renaissance. However, its history spans centuries. Construction began in 1296 in the Gothic architectural style but stalled in the 14th century due to the monumental challenge of building its dome. Architect Filippo Brunelleschi solved the problem, and the dome was finished in the 15th century. The cathedral’s green, pink, and white marble façade was not fully realized until 1887, when the neo-Gothic elements were finally completed.
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Photo: Simone Simone9/11Duomo di Milano (Milan, Italy)
The largest church in Italy, and the second-largest in Europe, the Milan Cathedral is a testament to perseverance, having taken nearly six centuries to complete. Construction on this Italian icon began in 1386, but it wasn’t officially finished until 1965. Unlike the towering, two-fronted Gothic churches of France, the Duomo presents a dense wall-like façade decorated with almost excessive ornamentation: more than 3,400 statues—including an entire menagerie of Gothic gargoyles—and 135 pinnacles and spires.
Photo: Hans-Peter Merten/Getty Images10/11Cologne Cathedral (Cologne, Germany)
Cologne Cathedral holds the record for one of the longest construction periods for a single building, lasting from 1248 until its completion in 1880. For four years after its finish, its two spires were the tallest structures in the world, at 515 feet. Today, they’re still the tallest twin church spires in the world. During World War II, the cathedral remained largely intact after intense Allied bombing across the city, a survival often attributed to its value as a navigational landmark for aircrews.
Photo: Vitaly Edush/Getty Images11/11Catedral de Santa María de la Sede (Seville, Spain)
Seville Cathedral, built on the site of the former Almohad Great Mosque, holds the impressive distinction of being the largest Gothic cathedral in the world by volume, thanks in part to its five naves. Its construction commenced in 1401, following the city’s reconquest in the 13th century. The cathedral’s defining architectural feature is the Giralda, its bell tower, which was originally the minaret of the mosque.
