|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amiens Cathedral travel wonder in France |
|
|
Why The 13th century Notre Dame Cathedral of Amiens is widely praised for its size and sculptures - and its unified Gothic style.
Tips & insights on Amiens Cathedral
It is the tallest of France's grand Nortre Dame cathedrals. The interior ceiling is as high as a modern 14-story building.
The Biblical story is prolifically illustrated with stone sculptures on the building's facade and interior spaces, from the Creation to the Last Judgment.
The two bell towers have different heights and somewhat dissimilar designs.
The main-aisle floor tiles are arranged in a number of large, striking geometric patterns. One has a (non-Nazi) swastika motif. Another is a maze representing the path of a pilgrim.
The Amiens Cathedral houses what worshippers believe is the head of St. John the Baptist.
In 1218, lightning burned down the Romanesque cathedral that previously stood on the spot. Just two years later, work began on the replacement, the Gothic cathedral we see today. Most of its main components were up in a half-century, which is unusually fast for the Middle Ages.
View my other gold, silver & bronze medal
winners in France
My French phrase guide for travelers What every visitor should know.
French cuisine
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|