Most Famous Gothic cathedrals in Europe You Have to Visit

Gothic architecture was a popular style of construction in the high and late middle ages in Europe for the 12th, 13th, 14 th, and even the early 16th century. This style relies much on space with such features as flying buttresses and rib vaults.

Gothic architecture was brought into existence from the Romanesque period continuing up to the 11th century. This evolution enhanced technology, which make it easier for civilization to construct more gargantuan structures. It was a popular style in many countries that include France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Britain.

This design is evident in very big structures such as the castle, cathedral and churches. It shall now be pertinent to turn our attention to more detailed analysis of gothic cathedral architectural accomplishments attained throughout the period.

Gothic Cathedrals

1. Abbey of Saint-Denis

The features of the saint Denis cathedral from what would be gothic architecture across Europe.

2. Cologne Cathedral

The Cologne cathedral is in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. This gothic cathedral is one of the leading pilgrimage sites in Europe and it is also a world heritage site. The cathedral is 515 ft (157 m) high, has two giant towers and is the largest gothic church in northern Europe. It was started constructing in 1248 and by 1880s, it was over 600 years in construction.

It was constructed after the previous cathedral was burnt to the ground in 1248, like many before it, Christians had been constructing churches on this location since the 4th century. This classical building has been used for different purposes throughout the years of its existence. It got stuck for centuries then a crane remained erect at a height of 56 meters or 184 feet.

In the year 1790 German troops turned Cologne cathedral into a hay loft and riding school during the French revolution. In the course of the 1820s, work was initiated on the restoration of the gothic cathedral for the construction of which was completed. They retained the original blueprints from those architects that were developed centuries ago.

The construction was at a completion several years back, and at that time, it was known to be the tallest building in the world. The Cathedral was severely damaged by air raids during world war 1944 gothic period. Its dark outside look is due to rain washing over the sulphuric acid on the sandstone used to construct the cathedral. The two towers depicted in the gothic cathedral above are in entirely the German gothic genre.

The dimensions of the cathedral are width of is 275 feet (84 meters), length is 474 feet (144.5 meters). In Cologne, stained glass windows are three times more than those of other gothic cathedrals such as the Chartres cathedral. There is a lot of light penetrating since the building is approximately 108, 000ft2 (10, 000 sq m) of windows ; the interior of the cathedral is marvelous. Cologne church has a plan in the shape of Latin cross. Two of the nave’s bays contain one of the tallest Gothic ceilings that have ever been designed.

Arches which are also constructed above flying buttress straining outwards and downwards take up the outward, and the downward pressure of the vault. Besides the stunning structure and beautiful colored glass artwork, there are other essential arts on the Gothic cathedral. Its high altar was laid in 1322 of black marble. The cross enclosed with black marble and high altar of black marble are significant features of the church that was built in XIII century.

The top is of a single slab of 4·6 meters and at the sides are white marbles which bear in relief scenes from the bible . The largest work is a hallowed containing remains and buried bones of the three kings also known as the three wise men.

3. The Notre Dame De Paris

Paris, France, is  home to the most famous gothic cathedral at the middle ages called Notre Dame cathedral. This gothic cathedral is built on the site of two church buildings that predate the existing cathedral. Laying of the foundation started in the 12th century through the intervention of Pope Alexander III. Notre Dame cathedral includes; square chapels, double aisles, and a choir transept.

The Notre Dame De Paris Gothic Cathedral is 130 meters long and 48 meters wide. Unlike some of the other sections of cathedral, which supports multiple tiers of windows, the east end is made of big windows with a single arch flying buttresses. Two, three stories high, gothic towers of sizes are on the western frontage; these are 68 meters high towers and on each of the rose window there is a 13th century glass.

Looking at the centuries of existence, the cathedral in France has gone into decline. It was almost dismantled by Napoleon when he usurped the imperial crown of the French. Notre Dame the latest among the gothic cathedrals to be destroyed by fire in the year 2019. Ever since its construction, the construction of the cathedral in France was completed in the 12th century under Bishop De Sully patronage.

Later the construction continued, and in the twelfth century, the west front and the rose window were completed. The Notre dame gothic cathedral has given a name for itself in the architectural world as one of the first buildings in history ever to use flying buttresses to support its exteriors. Certain of the statues observed around the gothic cathedral serve as the pillars. Gargoyles work as water sprouts in the form of sculptures on the building.

We realized that the rose windows in Notre dame allow light to shine on the interior of gothic cathedral, thus being masterpieces of Christian architecture. Another center that is a 9.6 meters rose window is placed on the western façade of the cathedral. Gothic cathedral contains the wonderful artwork.

Twenty-eight statues are Gallery of Kings located under the balustrade and show the 28 generations of the Kings of Judah. Cathedral has carved door used call portal depicting the last judgment But beautiful carving work has been done here.

The gothic part of the cathedral contains a northern rose window which has stained glass, so it is considered a true architectural creation. The primary lens is Mary and child, surrounded by prophets and kings of the old testament. It is also important in that Notre Dame is one of the best gothic cathedrals that you can visit.

4. Chartres Cathedral

Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres is a Roman Catholic church found in Chartres, France. The gothic cathedral makes part of the most preserved and beautiful cathedrals in France, indeed in all of Europe, and is classified as a world heritage site by UNESCO. The cathedral also seem to be among the most famous gothic architecture in France and more specifically Amiens Cathedral and Reims cathedral.

Chartres cathedral contains many sculptures today and, of course, stained glass windows are very famous here. It has part of Romanesque and gothic style architecture as it combine both styles of a building’s architecture. The portal has Romanesque roots: the fire of 1194 struck a Romanesque church; the present Gothic cathedral is built on the foundations of the old church in the XIII century.

The cathedral ranges a height of 34 meters and a length of 130 meters. Figure sculptures are numerous in the Chartres cathedral including mega figures called columns and microcosms of figures that depict Old Testament. Precisely, it is inside the cathedral that most of the most sacred relics can be seen. Today Chartres cathedral remains a protector of the virgin Mary tradition and people assume that even her veil is preserved in the cathedral treasury.

The Roman Catholics find it necessary to pilgrimage to the cathedral to date. Old testament, virgin Mary and the apocalypse have been depicted on the 176 stained glass windows of the church. The cathedral has been through a fire, the French Revolution when many of the gothic cathedrals were defaced and significant periods of time.

5. Lincoln Cathedral

Many people consider the Lincoln cathedral as one of the gems of Englishmen. It also has the name of the cathedral church of the blessed virgin Mary. The construction of cathedral started piece meal in 1072. As was the case with the other cathedrals in Europe during that time, the style used at Lincoln emulates the early gothic which was a new style at the end of the Romanesque period.

A fire left Lincoln with a wooden ceiling burnt and some years later an earthquake struck the town, it was one of the strongest at the time in the UK. New bishop to the seat after the earthquake; Hugh de Burgundy. The Bishop would initiate changes where early English gothic style was used on the structure of the cathedral when the project started.

Which proper methods for the time existed when the concept of architecture was progressing, including a pointed arch, flying buttresses, and ribbed vault inside the gothic cathedral to support exterior walls? These changes made it possible to introduce even more detailed large windows to admit more light.

Stained glass artisans designed two large rose windows for the cathedral in the middle ages to give the cathedral one of the hallmarks of gothic architecture. The windows “look” at evil and holiness each, as one faces North and the other, south. Gothic cathedral tower was constructed during the 14 {th} century and had a reach of 83 meters.

An interesting fact about the Lincoln cathedral is the burial of Eleanor of Castile at the church.

6. Amiens Cathedral

Amiens cathedral or Notre-dame d ’Amiens is an amalgamated gothic structure cathedral situated in Amiens France. The construction of the cathedral completed in France in 13th century it is the largest church comparing size with other gothic cathedral in French history.

The dimensions of it are 133.5 meters of interior length; while the nave rises 42.3 meters at the apex of the vault. Public arcades, the voids on the sides and at the bottom, as well as large and small windows of the clerestory and triforium introduce light into the gothic cathedral.

The intended exterior constructions are an immense rose window situated above the carved gallery on the double towered west end elevation. The large portals are recessed and respond to the regulations governing the facade of a building. Amiens Gothic cathedral is a large one that replaced a small church earlier burned in the 13th century; construction of the current cathedral impressed three quarters of a century.

It has been a pattern of Gothic cathedrals to suffer damage. In this case Amiens cathedral is not an exception. Nonetheless, as it has been seen, the building has come through all these years and still exists as to be seen in the light of day.

Other Notable Gothic Cathedrals in Europe

i) Milan Cathedral

The gothic cathedral is the most impressive structure in Milan and serves as the current Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Milan which is dedicated to the Nativity of St. Mary Milan cathedral is the fifth largest of the Christian cathedral in the world which was built during the 14th century. Gothic cathedral has more statues than any other gothic cathedral in the world. Statistics show that there are three thousand four hundred statues and seven hundred naked figures there along with one hundred and thirty-five gargoyles on the cathedral.

ii) Seville Cathedral

Known as the cathedral of St. Mary of the see, the gothic cathedral was completed in the early 16th century and it is the largest cathedral in the world at the particular period in history. A few famous people in Seville in that period are buried in the royal chapel of the building. Hearse – Seville Cathedral is evident of Seville’s affluence.

iii) Salisbury Cathedral

Formerly the cathedral church of the virgin Mary, Salisbury cathedral is an Anglican church located in England.  The place is famous for one of its tallest towers for a gothic church in Great Britain, also, the place is the cathedra of the Bishop of Salisbury. At the church there is a Blackfriars clock which is one of few clocks still working after being built in the 7th century. Gothic construction marked 750 years since its consecration in 2008.

iv) York Minster

York Minster is residence to archbishop of York and is the third in rank within Church of England hierarchy. They suffered fires, had treasures stolen from it, were demolished and, notably, Queen Elizabeth the First tried to rid cathedrals of all remaining Roman Catholicism. The York minster is still in use up to the present.

v) Strasbourg Cathedral

It is the Catholic cathedral referred to also as the church of our lady of Strasbourg ; the church is located in France. One of them is that for many years the construction served as the tallest building all around the globe: it held this status from 1647 to 1874, to be exact.

How to Know a Building is Gothic

All the gothic buildings have few things similar to each other and by looking at each other, we can identify them more quickly. It is now time to consider several examples of features of a gothic cathedral;

• Rose windows

• Large stained glass windows

• Pointed arches

Ribbed or barrel vaults

• Flying buttresses

• Ornate decoration

• Gargoyles

• Figures and statues