Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Laon — Attraction in Laon

France is full of stunning gothic cathedrals and you're spoilt for choice. However, this one has an excellent location and is an unmissable feature of the location landscape being positioned on a hill top in a relatively flat area. The cathedral doesn't appear to receive many English speaking visitors as almost all signs were in French (and there were many). Sadly, the inside (whilst possessing the soaring architecture of the Gothic style) is quite bland compared to others. However, you can still discern some of the original colour wall painting on the entrance to some side chapels and the wall behind the high altar. There are also some obviously medieval figurines on the wall but these are broken. The reliquary is worth a visit, if not just to see the collection of various saints body parts encased in fine metals. It certainly provided an insert into the medieval mind and a contrast to our own mindset. There does appear to be a 'face of Christ' object that is venerated separately, although I couldn't discern the history as all the text was in French. Definitely worth a visit if you're...

The Cathedral of Laon (Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Laon), in the Picardy region of France, dates from the 12th century. Laon Cathedral is known for its imposing towers, its beautiful Gothic architecture, and its importance as a major stop on the medieval pilgrimage route to Santiago in Spain.

The cathedral of Laon has six towers, four of which are complete. The towers and uniquely ornate, lightand airy. Statues of oxen decorate the top of the façade towers, a tribute to the animals that provided so much labor towards the construction of the church.

There are many other things to look on the complex exterior, including a finely carved portal and a rhinoceros gargoyle!

The understated purity of the cathedral's interior, reinforced by white stone, gives it a remarkable luminosity.

Notable interior features include the stained glass (the western rose window dates to 1210), panels dating from the 13th century, a Serbian icon of the Holy Face, and an 18th-century...

If you happen to be in this part of France you simply have to visit this 12th century gothic masterpiece. Take in the beautifully carved animals on the outside: cows, sheep, dragons, hippos and rhinos. Bet you didn't know they'd even heard of some of those in the mid-1100s. Inside the building is over 100m long with beautiful ceilings, elegant columns, well preserved stained glass and lots of peaceful little side chapels. Take a look at the graffiti in these: some of it dates back to the First World War thanking the saint for surviving a battle; some of it is recent asking for success in school exams. Can you imagine any of our home-grown smart-phone-addicted little thugs doing the same? There is even an altar to Thomas à Becket, who was a regular guest here until the mercurial Henry II had him done in. Once you've had your mind well and truly blown by all this why not recover over a long lunch at the nearby...