Beauvais - Cathedral

The "Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Beauvais" is incomplete. Only the transept (16th c.) and choir, with apse and apsidal chapels (13th c.) are standing after a tragic history.

The erection of the cathedral began in 1225. Within the 13th century, there was a race for the largest and tallest cathedral and the daring builders here took part in it.

They pushed the technology to the limits. The choir was completed in 1272. Reaching 42,50m, this was the highest-vaulted cathedral in France. In 1284, 12 years after completion, parts of the vaults collapsed. The choir got rebuilt over the next decades, but more columns were added now in chevet and choir. Due to the 100 Years War, the construction came to a complete stop in 1347.

The transepts were added to the choir 1500-1548. The vaultings of the southern transept reached 48,50m (still the highest worldwide) - and then a crossing tower was planned and built. This tower was completed in 1569, with 153m it was the highest of its time.

Four years later (1573), when the large procession had just left the cathedral on the "Feast of the Ascension", the tower collapsed. It took again years to repair the damage. The building of the nave that once was planned was never started.

This is the choir. Note the iron rods between the flying buttresses, that are obviously needed to stabilize the structure.