The Chartres Cathedral is probably the finest example of French

Gothic architecture and said by some to be the most beautiful

cathedral in France.
The Chartres Cathedral is a milestone in the development of
Western architecture because it employs all the structural
elements of the new Gothic architecture:
the pointed arch; the rib-and-panel vault; and, most significantly,
the flying buttress.
The cathedral is also celebrated for its many stained-glass
windows and sculptures. Because most of its 12th-and 13th-

century stained glass and sculpture survives, Chartres Cathedral is

one of the most completely surviving medieval churches.

Begun in 1093, Pisa Cathedral (Duomo di Pisa) is a masterpiece of

Romanesque architecture. Despite its proximity to the eye-catching and
tourist-attracting Leaning Tower, the Duomo still dominates the monumental
Piazza dei Miracoli in Pisa.

History of Pisa Cathedral

The first stone of Pisa Cathedral was laid in 1093, initiating what would become the
distinctive Pisan Romanesque style. The main architect was Buscheto, who is buried in
the last blind arch on the left side of the facade. The facade itself was built by
Buscheto's successor, Rainaldo.
A disastrous fire in 1595 destroyed most of the cathedral's medieval art, but some of the
best Renaissance artists were hired for the redecoration work.