Architecture

8 of the Best Gothic Cathedrals

Europe surely has some of the greatest engineering feats of the medieval era

December 22, 2016

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 the Romanesque movement, 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 nine of the best examples of Gothic cathedrals from across Europe.

Photo: Natalia Bratslavsky
1/8
Amiens Cathedral, France
Amiens is the tallest completed cathedral in France, reaching an internal height of 138.8 feet. It also has the largest interior volume at 260,000 cubic yards.
Photo: Julian Elliott - Ethereal Light
2/8
Notre-Dame de Reims, France
The kings of France were crowned in this cathedral, constructed during the 13th century on the site of an old church dating from the year 400.

Photo: Bruce Yuanyue Bi
3/8
Basilica of Saint Denis, France
Noted as the first Gothic cathedral (it was completed in 1144), this church holds the graves for all but three of the French monarchs.
Photo: Agence Images
4/8
Chartres Cathedral, France
This UNESCO World Heritage site is extremely well preserved—nearly all of the original stained-glass windows are still intact. Little of the building has changed since the early 13th century.

Photo: Luciano Mortula
5/8
Santa Maria del Fiore, Italy
Better known as the Duomo, Florence's cathedral is renowned for its incredible dome, built by Filippo Brunelleschi. While construction began in 1296 in the Gothic style, the structure wasn't complete until 1436. The multicolor façade you see today was completed in 1887 in the neo-Gothic style.
Photo: Getty Images
6/8
Westminster Abbey, London
Henry III ordered the construction of this abbey in 1245, as he chose the spot for his burial. It's now the site of British coronations and many royal weddings—most recently, the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton, now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Photo: Getty Images
7/8
Canterbury, U.K.
You might be familiar with this cathedral from Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. Archbishop Thomas Becket was famously murdered in the church.
Photo: Simone Simone
8/8
Milan Cathedral
The largest church in Italy took nearly 600 years to complete. Unlike most Gothic cathedrals, which have two towers in front, Milan'sl has quite a different silhouette, being covered in many small pinnacles.