Favorite Gothic Cathedral

I've not been to the Amiens Cathedral so can't compare. I am not sure I could pick just one. Most of the ones I enjoy and have made repeat visits to have aspects that have an impact to me!

Notre Dame de Paris - well obviously not able to be visited now but in spite of the tourists tromping thru here, I used to get such a good feeling in my heart in here. I am not Roman Catholic but this cathedral always had an impact on me.

Salisbury Cathedral - This is probably my top pick. I love it because of the side chapels and chapter house where you can see the stone carvings up close and get a sense of what the stone carvers were seeing and doing during the building process. I also love this one for Evensong. For that I feel there is more of an emphasis on the actual service itself rather than it being a tourist show, although there are many tourists who attend.

Chartres Cathedral - I go for the stained glass in this one!

Wells Cathedral - the scissor arches are pretty cool in here

Canterbury Cathedral - I loved going to the stained glass workshop on a RS tour and actually liked some of the modern glass installed in the cloister after we met the artist. I love the area where there is a shrine to Thomas a Becket.

Westminster Abbey - I'd love to have this to myself, lol. I love poking around the memorials and gravesites within the church but during the busy times I prefer the cloister area out back if it's open when you visit.

What's your favorite?

The cathedral of Milan, Italy is pure Gothic and is beautiful! The Cathedral in York, England is another that I have visited and it is impressive. My favorite though is not pure Gothic, the Sagrada Famila in Barcelona, Spain is the most wonderful structure I have ever visited, it is literally breathtaking!

Burgos is my favorite for its' massiveness, but Santiago di Compestella runs a close 2nd. I also quite like Astorga.

The Gothic cathedrals that I have been to are the Duomo in Florence. Italy; the Cologne Cathedral in Germany, Strasbourg Cathedral in France, St Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, Austria; Milan Cathedral in Italy, and Notre Dame in Paris, France. They each have impacted me in different ways. My favorites were the Florence Duomo, Notre Dame in Paris, and St. Stephen's in Vienna. I take time to pray in each one. It is so moving to be there.

I've seen so many Gothic cathedrals but my favorites are these (in order of appeal to me):

Cologne Cathedral drew my breath away. Simply magnificent!
Milan was really incredible - loved it!
Canterbury was not only gorgeous but the history there really draws me in. I loved finding the spot where Becket was murdered.
Salisbury was pretty wonderful, too - and again, the history is impressive.
Westminster Abbey's interior is probably one of my favorites. I could spend days walking through here.

I've seen so many more listed above, like Notre Dame in Paris and Aachen (not that impressive on the outside but beautiful interiors - and more history!). I also loved the cathedral in Strasbourg and St. Stephen's in Vienna, but Strasbourg paled in comparison to the Cologne Dom, which I saw right after Strasbourg (and probably not fair to do that to Strasbourg). :)

Tammy, great topic! Btw, have you read the book "Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett? That gave me a good look at how the cathedrals came to be and what was involved (I know it's fiction but Follett is a good researcher.)

I read an article online about how he came to write the book. Turns out he was raised in a very strict religion that banned all decoration in the churches. When he was older, however, he saw Peterborough Cathedral in the UK for the first time and was enraptured by it. The article goes on - it's pretty interesting

I very much enjoyed walking around the outside of Salisbury at night with the lights shining on it. Loved Sagrada Familia (not Gothic, of course), for Gaudi's focus on nature and examples of flora and fauna. Notre Dame (pre-fire) I was fascinated by the gargoyles when we went up the towers above. At Westminster, I enjoyed the historical figures who are interred there. At the cathedral in Barcelona I loved the resident geese. In Sainte Chapelle, I was mesmerized by the stained glass of course, but also the detailed carving work. I guess I enjoy cathedrals that offer an alternative to the religiosity.

Kings College Chapel at Cambridge

St Vitus in Prague

Lincoln. The front of it is especially amazing and I love the positioning of it on the only hill for miles around.

Wavering between Orvieto's and Siena's cathedrals, both of which I've visited twice and spent a lot of time looking at. I will vote for Siena cathedral --- it has Romanesque and other elements, too, but I like that about it.

Anyone remember Fabio, the model who also posed for dozens of paperback bodice-ripper covers in the 90’s? There is a carving in a side chapel at Salisbury that I’ll swear looks just like him. Big smile. Long flowy locks blowing back from his chiseled (literally!!) chin and cheekbones.

I loved that Great Course. I think it's what made me add St. Denis to my bucket list. I love stained glass, much of which was destroyed in England. My favorites are Chartres, one in Florence(not the Duomo but I can't remember which one right now), Kings College Chapel and Orvieto.

EDITED: Ooh I forgot about Sainte Chapelle! And attending a concert there is sublime!

Pam, It might be Santa Croce-and I think Vivoli Gelateria is nearby too.

Cala, are you thinking of Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence? It's where Gallileo and MIchelangelo are buried, among others.

Chartres, but Cologne is a close second.

For me, Canterbury Cathedral, San Chapelle in Paris and Milan Cathedral in Milan. Where else can you walk on the roof of a Cathedral!

andi, you can walk on the roof of the cathedral in Santiago and also in Santa Domingo in Spain. Having walked on the roof in Milan, I think the one in Santiago is a bit more exciting.

Notre-Dame of Fourvière Basilica in Lyon is now my favorite. Its not old, and only bits of it are Gothic, but it is spectacular in everyway.

Anyone remember Fabio, the model who also posed for dozens of paperback bodice-ripper covers in the 90’s?

Ha ha ha, Pam, I didn't notice that when I was at Salisbury but on my next trip, I will definitely check this out!

Diveloonie, thanks for the recommendation. I just pulled up our Great Courses account, and have The Cathedral in the cart.

Chartres just blew us away when we were there last year. I think we visited the cathedral at least three times during our brief stay; just magnificent.

There is a special place in my heart for the cathedral in Poznań, Poland. It is so simple, the lines so pure... To me, it was a simple but heartfelt prayer, winging its way up to God.

I have some great memories . . .

My first organ recital was in Notre Dame, Paris. That's when I learned to love Bach.
Malcolm Miller's tour of Chartres
The Chagall windows in St. Stephen's Church (okay, not a cathedral but Gothic) in Mainz.
Most recently, the Portuguese monasteries in Alcobaca (very early gothic) and Balalha (late gothic)

Many years ago, I took a 6-day coach tour of Southern England. By the end of the week, all the cathedrals were one big blur, even Salisbury and Canterbury.

Yes, Tammy, you must do more traveling!

For me it's got to be the Cathedral of Toledo, Santa María de Toledo, the magnum opus of the Gothic style in Spain. A true "Gothic Cathedral" having been first consecrated by the Germanic Goths of Spain back in AD 587. It lived part of its life as a Mosque, before being restored by Alfonso VI. Unique as it incorporates a blend of Christian and Muslim styles known as Mudéjar.

https://mappingspain.com/toledos-catedral-primada-one-of-spains-most-beautiful-cathedrals/

Thank you all for your responses. I have definitely put a few on my list that I must see at some point.

in order - Worcester, Hereford and York. But I am prejudiced. I'll return and read the thread tomorrow. nite nite