The Gothic style originated in France; the Ile de France and Picardy are dotted with fine cathedrals.These ten cathedrals represent the heights of the Gothic style. But warning; if you get addicted, you’re going to want to search out the others too – Sens and Senlis, Soissons, Noyon, Mantes… you might never stop!
1. Laon is one of the earliest Gothic cathedrals, but its architect created marvellous effects of transparence and depth in the façade and the famous towers. At the top of the towers are the famous bulls of Laon, said to be statues of the oxen which dragged the stone from the quarries up the hill to the cathedral. The church is filled with light, and the pristine simplicity of the architecture makes this little visited cathedral an obligatory stop for any traveller who wants to understand the aspirations of the early Gothic.
2. Chartres cathedral rises on a hill above the river Eure and the cornfields of Beauce. This is Gothic style at its most classic and powerful. The west front and transept porches are finely carved with figures of prophets and saints, and much of the original stained glass survives. The little figures of the donors at the bottoms of the windows, all exercising their trades – furriers, carpenters, bakers – are worth seeking out for an unusually realistic view of medieval life.
3. Notre Dame, Paris is perhaps not the finest of the Gothic cathedrals, and lost most of its furnishings in the French Revolution. But the façade, an almost square, monumental form, shows perfectly how the Gothic style uses geometrical proportions to create strongly articulated architecture.
4. Bourges is the most visionary of French cathedrals – a single, huge, open space without transept or narthex to break the pattern. Its double aisles are arranged so that the central aisle is a miniature copy of the nave of the church, with its own triforium and clerestory – as if the cathedral had been sliced in two and a new one inserted into the middle. As at Chartres, the stained glass is original – and since much of it is in the side chapels, close-up viewing is possible.
5. Amiens cathedral is massive – the biggest Gothic cathedral in France. And it’s a very pure Gothic style – simple, light, serene. The west front is full of carved detail, including symbols of the labours of the months and the virtues and vices as well as Biblical personages and local saints.
6. Reims cathedral was where the French kings were crowned; royal patronage made it a wealthy and strikingly beautiful building. The statues of the west façade – particularly the ‘smiling angel’ – have a grace and plasticity that make them the summit of the Gothic style in sculpture. Inside, the sheer height of the church is amazing.
7. Strasbourg cathedral’s lace like façade is a marvel, particularly when the setting sun brings out the redness of the sandstone. Inside, the famous astronomical clock provides a kitsch counterpoint to the glories of the Gothic nave.
8. Beauvais was the most ambitious of the Gothic cathedrals. Pride becomes before a fall, though, and after two separate vault collapses, the masons just gave up – the building was never finished. Even the stub of the church, though, is impressive – the highest and lightest work that the Gothic ever produced.
9. Albi cathedral is very different from any of the northern cathedrals. Its southern Gothic style is massive and ponderous, not light and transparent, and as if to stress the difference, it’s built in brick, not stone. But though the exterior looks like a fortress, inside it’s a treasure house of art, including fine frescoes, a painted vault, and a rood screen covered in painted statues.
10. The little-known Saint-Bertrand de Comminges isn’t one of the architectural masterpieces of France. But with its mixture of Romanesque narthex and Gothic nave, and its fine stained glass and Renaissance choir stalls, it’s one of those delightful places where every age has left its impression and every glance discovers new beauties. And how could you miss out a cathedral with its own stuffed crocodile?

The Evolution in Architectural Style
However, in spite of the different architectural styles, French architecture is segmented on the basis of periods. For example, early French history marked the usage of arches, vaults and domes in buildings, features which were nearly nonexistent before. Moreover, with the influx of the Romans, the concept of concrete was discovered and the rise in population raised the need of several innovative solutions for accommodation. This need was answered by constructing places meant for public utility.
Different kinds of Churches which sought inspiration from far and wide were also built during the pre-Romanesque era. While timber was mostly used in the churches of the eastern part of the country, stone was the crucial element for the west and south. A blend of block units, which formed a complicated interior place and the complementing exquisite designs on the exterior, were an emblem of this period. Other features included wide walls, balanced beautifying arches, and symmetrical windows. The Medieval period featured pointy arches and brought the construction of grand elevated buildings that gave weight to dimensions. Also, though flying buttress was in use earlier, this period matured their utility in the structures by adding an element of beauty.
Expressive ideas brought the revolution not just in the architectural styles but in every field during the French renaissance. Influenced by the Italian Renaissance, French renaissance brought the right blend of all the earlier periods, leaving a signification impression in the history. It was also during this time that the most famous item of architecture, the Eiffel Tower, was created. Cast iron construction as well as RCC was used for the first time. Also, exterior carvings, use of industrial materials, and new technology were brought to the surface.
While period and styles proved as a basis for segmentation, the architects themselves started differentiating the architectural styles. Some of the famous architects of that time were Baroque and Rococo, who brought freshness in architecture with ornamentation, interior-designing as well as natural and complex designs. Usage of symmetry and beautification also made the structures look magnificent.
Thus, French architecture’s extensive history has not only added to its enduring charm but has also given rise to an elegant place that has bequeathed renowned structures to this world.