Amiens - Cathedral

The construction of the "Cathédrale Notre-Dame d'Amiens" started in 1220, after a predecessor Romanesque church burnt down two years earlier. Unusual for medieval structures, the first architects are known here. Robert de Luzarches was the architect until 1228. He was followed by Thomas de Cormont until 1258. His son, Renaud de Cormont, acted as the architect until 1288.

Today Amiens Cathedral is the largest existing Gothic cathedral in France. There was a lot of competition between the cities and towns about the largest nave, the highest vaults. The long and relatively peaceful reign of Louis IX (aka "Saint Louis") brought prosperity to the region, so that Amiens could afford such a structure. The cathedral is 145m long (interior length 133,50m). The volume of the structure is about 200.000m³, Notre Dame de Paris has only about 100.000m³

The western facade is dotted with lots of bas-relief medallions. Here are two of them. To the left the "Dream of the Magi", to the right the Magi in a ship. I have never seen them sailing, all icons I saw so far, they were riding horses.

Thanks to "tereliyesajjan", I found this impressive and highly interesting websites:

www.medievalart.org.uk/Amiens/Amiens_default.htm