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 earliest art from the Middle Ages was created under the rule of the emperor Charlemagne. In 768, Charlemagne became king of the Franks, the Germanic tribe that occupied modern day France. He was crowned emperor by Pope Leo III in 800. His contributions to the Catholic Church made it the cultural force it eventually became.
Charlemagne made tithing compulsory, generating power and wealth in the church, and creating a powerful relationship that existed until the Renaissance era. It was Charlemagne’s encouragement and investment in the church that allowed the architecturally magnificent cathedrals to be built.
Romanesque Architecture

Romanesque architecture appeared in the eleventh century. It looked back to the Roman style, but certainly had its own touch. The essential distinguishing marks of Romanesque architecture include the rounded arch, thick walls and dim interiors. Their naves now had vaults instead of wooden roofs. Their interiors were decorated with not just sculpture but also architectural ornament. The different elements of the structure are enhance by different roof levels and set off the nave and transept against the inner and outer aisles.
Romanesque architecture is seen largely in the building of the great cathedrals. San Vitale, in Ravenna was built in the 6th century, and St. Paul’s in Rome in the 4th. However, the majority of architectural growth in Romanesque cathedrals occurred between 1050-1200. Great achievements in architecture at the time included the cathedrals in Vezelay, France and Fontrevault which took creative liberties with the Romanesque archetype.
The Chapel of St. John in the Tower of London, was another Romanesque church built in 1080. Durham Cathedral in London was built in 1093, was among the largest medieval cathedrals in Europe. According to H.W. Janson, it was a breakthrough in architectural engineering, with its three story nave, and strong transverse arches.
A myriad of other cathedrals were built all over Europe using this Romanesque style. Some included the Pisa Cathedral in Tuscany, the Speyer Cathedral in Germany, and the Autun Cathedral in western France. In The History of Art, H.W. Janson writes that Europe was virtually drowning in architectural creativity. He theorizes it was because of a need to worship God and a renewed religious enthusiasm, partly due to the Crusades.
Gothic Architecture
The church in the Middle Ages also invented the Gothic style of architecture. The first example was in the Abbey Church in St. Denis built just outside of Paris in 1140. Abbot Suger wanted to make the church here the country’s spiritual and political center. He took creative liberties with the Romanesque cathedral structure and produced a design that is graceful, almost weightless. The windows appear to be almost translucent walls, creating a thin airy interior.
The Architecture of Notre Dame Cathedral
In the book, Notre Dame de Paris, art historian Alain-Erlande Brandenburg offers an in-depth analysis of the historical cathedral. The three story cathedral of Notre Dame is synonymous with Parisian art and architecture as the Eiffel Tower. This is all attributed to the Catholic Church. Artistically, the cathedral stands as a testament to Christ. Over the main doorway, in the relief, The Last Judgment, legions of angels surround Christ, while Mary and St. John kneel at his side. The rose portals are actually stained glass windows etched with an iconographic series spanning all the major Biblical figures.
In the north screen, the life of Christ unfolds. The scenes range from The Visitation, Annunciation to the Shepherds, the Nativity, Adoration of the Magi, Massacre of the Innocents, Flight into Egypt, tPresentation in the Temple, Christ in the Temple, The Baptism, Entry into Jerusalem, The Last Supper, and Washing of the Feet. The southern cycle is themed after Christ’s resurrection and includes artistic renderings all of Christ’s appearances after his resurrection.
In the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church encouraged impressive art and architecture. Aside from the notable ones mentioned here, it is also responsible for the funding and architectural engineering of numerous other massive cathedrals throughout Europe. The church also encouraged the intricate and complex art inside these cathedrals. However, the impending Protestant Reformation would change all of this.

There are so many different things to see when walking around the grounds, such as the French Garden that was designed by Andre Le Notre, who included features like a waterfall and canal, but you will also find the landscaped gardens near to the Grand Ecuries also has beautiful fountains, incredible statues, ponds and places of romance which are just some of the other features, plus you will be able to see the resident swans along with the birds that nest here and other wildlife that you can enjoy.

The Chateau de Chantilly is not as well known as some chateaux and yet is a remarkable place that many feel is actually better than the Chateau de Versailles and being under an hour from Paris, it is well worth a visit if you get the chance, especially considering you can not only take in the grounds, but experience the Conde Museum with its vast art collection, that is second only to The Louvre in Paris.

Jardin Francais

Andre Le Notre designed The Jardin Francais for the Grand Condé at the end of the 17th century. Andre also designed lots of other grounds including those at the Chateau de Versailles, but this is the only garden that he created where the axis does not pass through the chateau. Instead the centrepiece is a statue of Le Connétable, Anne de Montmorency.

The Chateau de Chantilly has the largest expanse of water with the Grand Canal being approximately 2.5 kilometres and is much larger than the canal at the Chateau de Versailles that Andre Le Notre designed, and on the borders at one side of this canal, you can see some remarkable water mirrors that reflect the sky and water jets.

Jardin Anglais

The Jardin Anglais is situated between the Chateau de Chantilly and the Grands Ecuries, which is home to La Musée Vivant du Cheval, which is also known as the Living Horse Museum.

The Jardin Anglais was designed for Prince Louis Joseph de Condé in 1819 by the architect Victor Dubois on the site of one of the original gardens by Andre Le Notre that was destroyed during the French Revolution.

And yet a large fountain designed by Andre still remains, but you can also see swans and other birds that nest in the islands here. Also situated at the heart of the Jardin Anglais you will find a piece of lawn bordered by fountains and trees that was used for parties, and this leads into a gazebo that contains a statue of Eros.

The Temple de Vénus is a folly built that was originally built in the early 19th century and has since been completely restored. Designed by the architect Victor Dubois in the middle of the Jardin Anglais it stands next to a romantic pond and at its centre there is a famous antique statue, which represents Venus, the Goddess of Love and Beauty.

Le Hameau

Le Hameau comprises five hamlets with modest exteriors, but beautiful and interesting interiors and was built for Prince Louis Joseph de Bourbon Condé. In fact, it was this that inspired Queen Marie Antoinette to have built the Le Hameau in the Trianon at the Chateau de Versailles and here you find a place of calm within the grounds of Chantilly.

Jeu de Paume

Prince Louis Joseph de Bourbon Condé was a keen player of Jeu de Paume or real tennis and when construction began in 1756 it was one of the last Jeu de Paume’s to be built in France.

It was constructed in stone with a slate roof and had a balcony in forged iron, with the interior being split in two parts, the tennis room and changing rooms where players could rest as well as change. However the Duc d’Aumale transformed the room into a museum room where he installed large paintings that could not be displayed elsewhere due to their size and some of these remain in the same place today.

Chateau d’Enghien

The Chateau d’Enghien stands next to the forest on the Chantilly estate and is a long building that was constructed in 1769 for the guests of the Prince de Condé. When you look back at the History of Chantilly, you will find that numerous parties were held here and this was built as the Chateau de Chantilly was not large enough to put up all the guests.

In honour of the last descendent of the Bourbon Condé family, who was born in Chantilly in 1772, it is now called the Chateau d’Enghien and now houses the apartments of the members of the Institut de France who look after Chantilly’s interests.

The grounds of the Chateau de Chantilly are open every day of the week except for a Tuesday.

From April through to the end of October they open at 10am and close at 8pm, then from November through to the end of March they open from 10.30am to 6pm.

However, please bear in mind that the ticket booths close at least one hour prior and in some cases two hours prior to the grounds closing.