ST. PETER'S CATHEDRAL

The highest gothic choir in the world is what makes this cathedral famous. The vertical effect is all the more impressive as the rest of the building is not completed. In the 13th century, Beauvais was at the height of its power and the bishop-count Milon de Nanteuil decided to build the highest and largest church in the kingdom, in place of the old church (of which a part can still be seen today adjoining the western facade, and which is called "la Basse œuvre"). Work began in 1225. The choir and the eastern side of the transept were completed in 1272, but its height made it fragile, and in 1284, the collapse of part of the vault marked the spirits. Consolidation work then began until 1340. The work was then interrupted due to a lack of funding and the Hundred Years War. From 1500 to 1550, under the direction of the renowned Martin Chambiges, the transept was built. His successors took the initiative to erect a lantern tower (110 m) from 1563 onwards, forcing the work on the nave, which was intended to consolidate the construction, to stop. The tower was completed in 1569, but collapsed after four years! Due to a lack of funds, the nave was never completed. Although the French Revolution deprived the cathedral of the statues that adorned its portal and of many elements of its interior decoration, you can still admire some paintings and stained glass windows and the astronomical clock (52 dials, 68 automatons playing the scene of the Last Judgement).