Beauvais and Amiens

On the last day of our recent trip to the south of France, we stopped in a couple of cities between Paris and Hasselt.  Mostly to see two famous cathedrals.

Beauvais, France

It's about an hour northwest of Paris.

Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Beauvais

Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Beauvais is an incomplete Roman Catholic cathedral. 

Begun in 1225, it was an effort to build the tallest Gothic cathedral.  

We were lucky to arrive when the sun was shining so we could see so much more.

Some parts of it have collapsed through the years.  

These structures are all considered temporary until more permanent solutions can be decided.

Astronomical clock

Medieval clock 

Some of the stained glass windows are from the 14th and 15th centuries.

Some parts of the cathedral did not have beams and supports so I assume they are structurally sound.

I read that the buttresses were made thinner than most cathedrals of that day so as to let in more light.

They definitely accomplished that.  The sun coming through was amazing.

Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Beauvais

Beauvais, France

Where do you begin?

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The other city we visited is Amiens, France.  It is about another hour north of Beauvais.

This is Cathédrale Notre-Dame d'Amiens built between 1220 and 1270.

The sculptures on the facade are really elaborate.

The initial reason for constructing this cathedral was to house the head of John the Baptist in December 1206.

The head is from the Fourth Crusade.

This is it.  In that gold box with the glass oval.

Cathédrale Notre-Dame d'Amiens

Amiens, France