Mostly built during the Middle Ages, the cathedrals of Western Europe continue to awe and inspire. The art of cathedral construction is still studied, and these massive structures are some of the best reminders of the power of Medieval Europe.
In this exhibit, cathedrals are examined through images from Magic Lantern Slides. The cathedrals below are sorted by country and city. By clicking on each picture, more detail can be seen. After the text are buttons with links used as sources and provide more information about these structures.
Magic Lantern Slides are made of two pieces of glass with photographic material (the emulsion) sandwiched between the two panes. Projected with the aid of a magic lantern, this format is almost as old as photography itself. They were produced until around the 1950s when these examples were believed to have been made, though some of these slides may be several decades older. While the slides in this exhibit are all black and white, some lantern slides could have color added. The size of slides could vary, but these are all around 3” x 4”.
Each of the lantern slides in this section of the exhibit feature illustrations from A History of Architecture on the Comparative Method by Banister Fletcher and his son, Sir Banister Flight Fletcher.
Floorplan
The drawing below from Saint-Pierre Cathedral in Angoulême illustrates well the floorplan of a cathedral. The building is shaped like a cross. The longest and lower part of the cross is the nave. The two pieces on the side are transepts. The piece behind is the choir, while the rounded part of the building is the apse. The middle of the cross, where the nave, choir, and transepts meet, is the crossing.
The middle of the drawing on the right shows many of the same features in Lincoln Cathedral.
Spires
Located on the tops of towers, spires are the pointed roofs. Many of the English churches below have extremely tall examples designed to point toward the heavens. Towers with spires can commonly be found at the entrance of cathedrals or above the crossing.
Capitals
The capital of a column is the decorative top. These examples are all English.
Windows
The large round window in the middle of this drawing is a rose window. These are usually found above the entrances of cathedrals. To the left is an arched window with a point, known as a Gothic arch.
Flying Buttress
At the top right of this drawing is an example of a flying buttress, though it is from a monastery instead of a cathedral. The taller portion of the cross-section (shown as over 60 feet tall) is the nave. An aisle with a person is on the right, underneath a Gothic arch. The aisle is a walkway on the side of the nave and choir with a shorter roof. Above the aisle is the flying buttress. The stonework shown holds up the wall, but this area is outside the building.
Amiens
Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, Amiens Cathedral is one of France's best examples of Gothic architecture. It was built from around 1220 to 1288, was expanded in the next century, and restored in the 1800s.
Angoulême
Saint-Pierre Cathedral in Angoulême is an excellent example of the Romanesque style, which was heavily influenced by the architecture of the Romans. Romanesque was popular before Gothic, which of the two is more often associated with Medieval Europe. The building was built in the 12th century.
Autun
The Cathedral of St. Lazare in Autun is known for the decorative capitols on the columns throughout the cathedral. The capitals shown here are the Fall of Simon Magus and Samson & the Lion. More examples can be found at the link below.
Bayeux
Best known as the home of the Bayeux Tapestry, this cathedral was built during the reign of William the Conqueror. The first Norman to rule England was present at the cathedral’s consecration in 1077, just 11 years after the events depicted on the tapestry.
Beauvais
The Cathedral of Saint-Pierre de Beauvais has an infamously disaster-filled history. Construction began in 1225, but the church’s choir collapsed in 1284. The church once had a large tower, but it collapsed in 1573. Because of this, the cathedral was never finished. During World War II, the church sustained damage again.
Despite these setbacks, Beauvais is considered the most ambitious Gothic cathedral in France. Its choir is taller than any other Gothic church in the world, and the cathedral was briefly the world’s tallest manmade structure.
Bourges
Bourges was one of the earliest Christian cities in modern France, and the city’s leading religious site has been on the location since the third century. The current cathedral was built in the 12th and 13th centuries and is known for the elaborate carvings over the main portals at the front of the church. The central and largest portal features a tympanum (the carvings over the doors) of the Last Judgement.
Chartres
Chartres Cathedral is one of Europe’s most famous. The cathedral is filled with elaborate stained glass, and in the middle of the nave is a labyrinth mosaic on the floor. The oldest part of Chartres Cathedral is the crypt, which dates back to the 11th century. Construction began on the current structure in 1194 and took only twenty-five years to finish. An additional spire was added to the church’s façade in the 1500s.
Note how the stained glass work and the medieval clock are highlighted in these slides.
Coutances
Coutances Cathedral in Normandy is considered one of the region’s most elaborate buildings. Construction on the church began in the 1200s. The church’s organ was built before the French Revolution for an abbey and was installed in Coutances in the 1810s. It was most recently restored in 1985.
Laon
A cathedral has been in Laon since at least the 8th century, but the current structure is much newer. The picture below shows a section of the vaulted ceilings inside the nave. The link below has an exterior photo of the building.
Le Puy
Le Puy Cathedral is known for its mix of Byzantine, Arabic, Baroque, Romanesque, and Italian architecture. The cathedral is known as one of the points pilgrims begin the Camino de Santiago, which ends at Santiago de Compostela Cathedral in Spain.
Liseaux
This vaulted ceiling is from Saint-Pierre Cathedral in Liseaux and can be compared with the cathedral in Laon. Liseaux Cathedral’s construction began in 1149. A past Bishop of Liseaux was Pierre Cauchon, the judge who condemned Joan of Arc.
Notre-Dame de Paris
Arguably France’s most famous cathedral, Notre-Dame de Paris sits on an island in the middle of the Seine. Called the Île de la Cite, it is where Paris was born. Saint-Etienne Cathedral was on the same site from the 4th century until the construction of Notre-Dame. According to legend, the earlier church was built by Charlemagne.
The current cathedral was built in the 12th century and was Paris's most important religious structure. During the French Revolution, it became a “Temple of Reason,” like many other churches across France. Napoleon was crowned in the cathedral in 1804, famously putting the crown on himself.
In 2019, large parts of the roof were destroyed in an inferno. Notre-Dame de Paris is currently being restored to its original glory and is expected to be an icon of France for centuries.
Périgueux
Périgueux Cathedral is designed in the Romanesque style, making it look somewhat exotic next to the other sites in this exhibit. It dates back centuries, though architect Paul Abadie’s “restoration” in the 19th century significantly altered the building. Only the crypt (not shown) and the bell tower were built before Abadie.
Rouen
Rouen Cathedral is one of France’s grandest and was constructed during several phases for 800 years. Construction began in 1145, while the façade of the cathedral came three centuries later. Notably, the heart of Richard the Lion Heart is interred here. Above the crossing is a prominent spire - not shown in these slides - added in 1876, and it remains France’s tallest. After being damaged during World War II, it is still being restored.
Sens
This lopsided looking building in Sens is considered the first cathedral built in the Gothic style. It was consecrated in 1164, and over 850 years later continues to inspire. The cathedral is also known as the resting place of Louis XVI’s father and for its elaborate stained-glass windows.
Soissons
Several French cathedrals were heavily damaged during the World Wars. Soissons is one example, and the damage from World War I’s Battle of Soissons can be seen here. The cathedral also survived the French Revolution and the Huguenots, but after each was restored. A window depicting two French martyrs made for Soissons Cathedral is displayed at Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.
Strasbourg
The outside of Strasbourg Cathedral has been described as “one of the finest picture books of the Middle Ages that you will ever see,” as it is covered in sculptures that tell biblical stories. The original Romanesque cathedral dated back to 1015, while the current building was completed in 1439. It was Europe’s tallest building for centuries.
Tours
Construction began on Tours Cathedral around 1170 and was completed three centuries later. The cathedral is notable as the final resting place of Charles VIII’s wife, Anne of Brittany, and their six children. A photo of the tomb can be found at the link below.
Cologne
Cologne Cathedral took centuries to complete, with construction beginning in 1248 and ending in 1880. Construction was not continuous, but the last work to be complete still followed the original plans for the cathedral. According to UNESCO, “no other Cathedral is so perfectly conceived, so uniformly and uncompromisingly executed in all its parts.”
Speyer
Speyer Cathedral was consecrated in 1061 and is an example of the Romanesque style. The constriction was ordered by Emperor Konrad II. Only two decades after its complete, it was heavily modified and became the world’s longest church. It was damaged by a fire in 1689 and was almost demolished in 1806. It was rebuilt after the end of the Napoleonic Wars, and it is now the world’s largest surviving Romanesque church.
Worms
Worms Cathedral was built in the 11th century, though an earlier church on the site dated back four hundred years before. The city is famous as the home of the (unusually named) Diet of Worms, an event involving Martin Luther’s life considered one of the most critical events in the early history of Protestantism.
Mechelen
The only Belgian cathedral in the collection is St. Rumbold’s Cathedral in Mechelen, located halfway between Brussels and Antwerp. Construction on the church began in the 13th century and was completed a little over two centuries later. Initially, the tower was to have a spire on top, which would have made St. Rumbold’s the world’s tallest church. Due to a lack of funds, the spire was never built.
Bristol
Bristol Cathedral was founded as an abbey around 1140, and the oldest surviving buildings at the site date from this time. Work began on building a new nave four centuries later but was halted due to Henry VIII’s dissolution of many English abbeys as he tried to remove the Pope’s influence. It became a cathedral in 1542 but went without a nave until 1868.
Canterbury
The endpoint of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, this cathedral has earned a unique place in English literature. A church has been on this sight in Canterbury since 597, when an abbey was founded and dedicated to St. Augustine. Canterbury is also notable as the site of Archbishop Thomas Becket’s murder in 1170. Canterbury was damaged by a fire in 1174, and large parts of the structure date from a rebuilding that took place afterward.
Carlisle
Carlisle Cathedral started as a Priory Church and has been a cathedral since 1133. It was damaged by fire in 1292, partially demolished during the English Civil War, and used as a prison in the 1740s. It is also notable as the site of Sir Walter Scott's wedding. Not shown in this slide are the arches from the Normans, which the official church website call “wonky.”
Chester
The building now known as Chester Cathedral began as an abbey in 1092, and the construction on the most prominent parts of the current structure began in 1250. Though Henry VIII dissolved the monastery, it became a cathedral shortly afterward in 1541.
Durham
Durham Cathedral was built in the 11th and 12th centuries by the Normans and, unlike many of the other English cathedrals highlighted here, is designed in the Romanesque style. It was built to house relics from St. Cuthbert and the Bede, the early English historian. Both religious figures lived around 300 years before the cathedral was built.
The slides below are good reminders of their fragility. Two of them are broken and have been repaired, though the slide of the nave was not aligned properly.
Ely
Ely Cathedral was built with limestone, and according to the official website, monks had to pay 8000 eels each year for the material. The City of Ely was located on an island when the cathedral was built. The marshland surrounding Ely was drained in the 1600s to create farmland. The tallest tower shown in the exterior view below was completed around 1189.
Exeter
Exter Cathedral was founded in 1050, but the current building is much newer, dating from the 12th to 14th centuries. The interior of the nave is one of the longest in the world. The west front is shown in the exterior view, with its carvings of angels and biblical kings. There was once a statue of Mary, but it was replaced by a figure of Richard II due to an accident, and the error has never been corrected.
Exeter Cathedral also has a unique connection to more recent English history. The church is the home of a flag used by polar explorer Robert Falcon Scott during his Discovery expedition.
Gloucester
Construction began on Gloucester Cathedral in 1089 and was completed around 40 years later. This original portion of the church still survives, though the original roof was replaced after a fire in the 1200s. The main part of the church was built in the 14th century and is considered a masterpiece of Medieval architecture. Also well-known is the cloister (a hall), filled with intricately carved stonework. The cloister was used on the title page of this exhibit.
Lichfield
Built on the site of a church from the year 700, Lichfield Cathedral was largely constructed in the 13th and 14th centuries. Lichfield’s claim to fame is that it is England’s only cathedral with three spires, which can all be seen in this slide. The cathedral was damaged during the English Civil War, and is believed to have “suffered more than any other cathedral at the hands of the devastators.”
Lincoln
One of England’s most famous cathedrals, Lincoln has been home to a cathedral since the 1090s. This original cathedral was damaged several times and was rebuilt in 1192 to create the current building. It was expanded in the 14th century, which made Lincoln Cathedral the world’s tallest building. The link below from the cathedral website has an excellent timeline of this historic building’s history.
London - St. Paul’s Cathedral
The newest English cathedral in this exhibit is an icon of London: St. Paul’s Cathedral. After the Great Fire of London in 1666, this monumental structure was designed by Sir Christopher Wren to replace an earlier Gothic structure. It was officially completed in 1711.
Since then, it has stood at the heart of English history. George III’s Golden Jubilee and Queen Victoria’s Dimond Jubilee were inside in 1809 and 1897, respectively. It is the final resting place of two great heroes of the Napoleonic Wars, Admiral Nelson and the Duke of Wellington. During the Blitz of World War II, the cathedral was hit by only a single bomb, which caused limited damage. It remains one of London’s most recognizable sights and, aside from Westminster Abbey, its most famous church.
Peterborough
Like several other major English Cathedrals, Peterborough began life as a monastery. Dating back to 655, the monastery’s story is filled with long kings and Vikings. It was closed in 1539 and became a cathedral in 1541. Peterborough Cathedral is the final resting place of two of England’s most famous queens, Katharine of Aragon and Mary, Queen of Scots. Sadly, the cathedral suffered a significant fire in 2001 but has since been restored to its original grandeur.
Rochester
One of the oldest cathedral sites in England, Rochester has been home to a cathedral since 604. The oldest parts of the current building were built by the Normans four centuries later, while additional work was done until the time of Henry VIII. The cathedral’s website has many exhibits about the church’s history, and a 3D scan of the entire cathedral is available to view online for free.
Salisbury
Between 1075 and 1091, the Normans built a cathedral in Salisbury at a site called Old Sarum. Located near a castle, the bishop and the castle ended up at odds, so the cathedral site was moved about two miles in 1218. It was on this site that the current Salisbury Cathedral was constructed between 1220 and 1258. The spire was added in the 1300s, and the cathedral library was added a century later.
By the late 1600s, it was clear that Salisbury Cathedral needed repairs. This work would be done at the end of the next century. More work was done in the 1870s. Today, Salisbury Cathedral is known for the many artists who have painted its striking exterior. It is also home to an early copy of the Magna Carta.
Wells
Construction began on Wells Cathedral in 1175, and it was England’s first Gothic cathedral. Various work would continue until around 1490. The clock in the cathedral was made in 1390 and is England’s second oldest. Lastly, Wells Cathedral is known for its well-preserved stained glass.
Winchester
Winchester Cathedral was founded in 1079, and the current nave was built in the 14th and 15th centuries. The cathedral is filled with art, from 900-year-old wall paintings to an altar installed in 2011. The church is famous for how it was saved in the 1900s: The foundations had become waterlogged, so a diver named William Walker worked for six years to place concrete bags and save the church from destruction. His statue today stands in the church. Winchester Cathedral is also notable as the final resting place of Jane Austen.
York
Because York’s cathedral dates back to the Anglo-Saxons, it uses the name they gave the most important churches: minster. York Minster has been home to a church since the 600s and was burnt in 1069. The cathedral was rebuilt after the fire and would be rebuilt and expanded several times over the centuries. The building suffered fires in 1753, 1829, 1840, and 1984. The 1829 fire was caused by arson, and led to the creation of a Minster Police, while the devastating 1984 fire was caused by lightning.
York Minster is the largest Gothic structure north of the Alps, and is considered one of the most historic churches in all of Europe.
Archive of the Past
Created by Andrew J. Bramlett
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