Laon Gothic Cathedral in Northern France

The ‘not-to-be-missed’ Gothic Cathedrals across the Channel

Cross the Channel to Dunkirk and in a couple of hours you’ll come across some of the most stunning examples of Gothic Architecture in the whole of northern Europe.

The Cathedrals of Amiens and Reims in France and Tournai in Belgium are now UNESCO-listed World Heritage Sites. The western portals of the French cathedrals (notably Reims and Amiens) are among the boldest and most magnificent features of their architecture.

Notre Dame de Tournai

Built in the first half of the 12thC on the foundations of an earlier building, it is a fine example of the northern French school, and one of Belgium’s prime architectural monuments. The local blue-grey stone was used in its construction. Today’s building shows the influence of the Romanesque as well as early and late Gothic periods, sharing some of the influences also seen at the Gothic Cathedrals of Noyon and Soissons (both in Picardy); its choir was inspired by that of Amiens. Visit the Tournai Cathedral website for more information.

Getting there: just over an hour mainly on motorway; 111Km.

Notre Dame de Reims

A masterpiece of Gothic art, built in the 13thC. It is unique in its unity of style, its rich statuary and light. It was here that the Kings of France were crowned. Its famous stained glass windows date back to the 13thC, but Marc Chagall has also left his legendary mark on the three windows of the side Chapel.

For more on Reims visit www.reims-tourism.com

For more on the Cathedral (in French) visit www.cathedrale-reims.com

The Cathedral is open daily for visitors. Guided tours are available. Reims is of course the capital of Champagne, and a magnificent town to explore.

Getting there: A26 motorway from outside Dunkirk to Reims – two and a half hours, 270Km.

Notre Dame de Laon

One of the earliest Gothic Cathedrals in France, built soon after Saint-Denis (Paris) and Noyon (in Picardie), but predating Chartres and Notre Dame de Paris. The Cathedral dominates the tiny town of Laon, a former capital of France with some 800 or so listed buildings within its ramparts (making Laon the largest urban conservation area in the whole of France). Views over the surrounding countryside are spectacular, whether or not you have the courage to climb the 260 steps of the Cathedral’s north tower. As you drive along the A26 towards Laon or Reims, you will glimpse Laon Cathedral to your right. Visit the Aisne département Toutist Board website for a virtual tour of Laon.

Getting there: A26 motorway from outside Dunkirk to Laon – two and a quarter hours drive, 226Km.

Notre Dame Cathedral, Amiens

Amiens Cathedral is twice over a UNESCO World Heritage Monument, first registered in 1981 as a landmark site in gothic architecture and again in 1998, the latter as a stage on the pilgrim routes to Santiago. Given Amiens’ location in Picardy in northern France, many an English pilgrim would have passed by. It dominates the now restored medieval heart of Amiens with its myriad cafés and bistros giving on to the River Somme.

Getting there: one hour forty-five minutes drive from Dunkirk, mainly on motorway; 189Km

St Pierre Cathedral, Beauvais

It has never been completed, but boasts nonetheless the highest Gothic choir in the world (67.23m to the lightning conductor). It is built entirely in the locally quarried chalk. Construction began in 1225 and took only about 20 years. But the building was to be victim to a number of disasters over the centuries, resulting in modifications in the 13thC, 16thC and even the 20thC (the latter mainly for the stained glass windows). Further major restoration and structural work began in 2005 and is still under way. More about Beauvais Cathedral here. The cathedral is home to the world’s oldest chiming clock (1305) - chiming religious chants which change according to the season! You’ll find here too a magnificent 19thC Astronomical Clock which has 90,000 parts which are perfectly synchronised.