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What is the most beautiful cathedral in France?

By YPB Team

Stone that took three centuries to finish, glass that has survived eight, and one choir so ambitious it fell down.

  1. Notre-Dame de Paris — ranked #11
    Notre-Dame de Paris
    The island cathedral reopened in December 2024 after the 2019 fire.
    1000pts
  2. Beauvais Cathedral — ranked #22
    Beauvais Cathedral
    The tallest Gothic choir ever built, and never finished after it collapsed.
    952pts
  3. Reims Cathedral — ranked #33
    Reims Cathedral
    The coronation church of the kings of France, with the smiling angel.
    762pts
  4. Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey — ranked #44
    Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey
    A Romanesque and Gothic abbey church on a tidal island.
    735pts
  5. Basilica of Saint-Denis — ranked #55
    Basilica of Saint-Denis
    Where Gothic architecture began, and where French kings are buried.
    571pts
  6. Strasbourg Cathedral — ranked #66
    Strasbourg Cathedral
    Pink sandstone and a single spire that was the world's tallest building for 227 years.
    571pts
  7. Laon Cathedral — ranked #77
    Laon Cathedral
    An early Gothic cathedral with stone oxen carved into its towers.
    571pts
  8. Chartres Cathedral — ranked #88
    Chartres Cathedral
    Famous for 12th- and 13th-century stained glass and its mismatched spires.
    343pts
  9. Sainte-Chapelle — ranked #99
    Sainte-Chapelle
    A royal chapel that is essentially fifteen walls of glass.
    343pts
  10. Amiens Cathedral — ranked #1010
    Amiens Cathedral
    The largest cathedral in France by interior volume.
    343pts
  11. Bourges Cathedral — ranked #1111
    Bourges Cathedral
    A five-aisled Gothic interior with no transept.
    343pts
  12. Albi Cathedral — ranked #1212
    Albi Cathedral
    The largest brick building in the world, built to look like a fortress.
    343pts
  13. Le Mans Cathedral — ranked #1313
    Le Mans Cathedral
    A Romanesque nave joined to a soaring Gothic choir.
    343pts
  14. Rouen Cathedral — ranked #1414
    Rouen Cathedral
    The Gothic facade Monet painted about thirty times at different hours.
    0pts
travel123architecture13France53gothic3cathedrals1

Photo credits

Comments 1

Between 1892 and 1894 the west front of Rouen was painted about thirty times from rented rooms across the square. That façade against twelve rivals: https://youpick.best/articles/monet-ranked-many-ways

YP
ypb-teamSep 18
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