Just an hour from Paris, Beauvais’s Saint-Pierre cathedral is a must-see for all heritage lovers. The edifice was designed as early as 1225 to be the most ambitious cathedral in the kingdom, driven by the will of the bishop-count of the time and a titanic construction project. Centuries later, this Gothic building remains a rare example of what medieval architecture tried to achieve, even if the project was never completed.
An impressive but unfinished cathedral
The cathedral’s eventful history is marked by episodes of destruction. Construction began in the 13th century with the choir, which was completed in 1272. Later, in the 16th century, the transept was added, with a flamboyant façade and a rose window over 11 meters in diameter. An immense lantern tower was even built, culminating at over 150 m in height, which would have made St. Peter’s the tallest cathedral in the world. The tower collapsed a few years after completion, and the planned nave was never built.
The absence of a nave gives the cathedral a unique silhouette: you move from the choir to the transept, stopping where a large nave should have risen. This configuration, exceptional for a Gothic cathedral, illustrates the technical and historical obstacles that interrupted the construction work. The spectacular dimensions of the choir, with a height under vault of over 48 m, is a world record in Gothic art. To put this in perspective, the vaults are far larger than those found in even the most famous of France’s great cathedrals.
In addition to its size, the cathedral has other remarkable features. Stained glass windows from different eras offer a panorama of the evolution of the art of stained glass, from the Middle Ages to the XXᵉ century, with pieces signed by both ancient and modern master glassmakers. It also houses two historic clocks: a 14th-century carillon still in operation and a 19th-century astronomical clock made up of thousands of mechanical parts, which indicates seasons and celestial phenomena.
Saint-Pierre Cathedral has been listed as a historic monument since 1840, making it one of the most remarkable and studied medieval monuments in France. Recent restoration work has sought to stabilize the structure and preserve the upper sections, which bear witness to the technical challenges faced by the builders of yesteryear.
All in all, one of France’s most beautiful and intriguing religious buildings!
📍Saint-Pierre de Beauvais Cathedral