While most High Gothic cathedrals generally followed the Chartres plan, Bourges Cathedral took a different direction.
It was built by Bishop Henri de Sully, whose brother, Eudes de Sully, was the bishop of Paris, and its construction in several ways followed Notre-Dame de Paris and not Chartres.
Like Chartres, the builders simplified the vertical plan to three levels; grand arcades, triforium, and high windows.
The triforium was simplified a long horizontal band, the entire length of the church.
However, unlike Paris, Bourges continued to use the older six-part rib vault used in Paris.
This meant that the weight of the vaults fell unevenly upon the nave, and required, like Early Gothic cathedrals, alternating strong and weak pillars.
This was artfully hidden by the use of large cylindrical piers, each surrounded by eight engaged colonettes.
The piers of arcade are particularly imposing; each is twenty-one meters high.

Since Bourges used six-part rib vaults instead of the lighter four-part vaults, the upper walls had to resist greater outward thrust, and the flying buttresses had to be more effective.
The Bourges buttresses used a unique design with a particularly acute angle, which gave it the necessary force, but it was also reinforced by thicker and stronger walls than Chartres.

The predominant sensation at Bourges is not only great height, but great length and interior space; the cathedral is 120 meters long, without a transept or other interruption.
The most unusual feature of Bourges Cathedal is the arrangement of vertical height; each part of the elevation is set back, like steps, with the highest roof and vaults over the central aisle.
The outermost aisles have vaults nine meters high; the intermediate aisles have vaults 21.3 meters high; and the center aisle has vaults 37.5 meters high.

Many later Gothic cathedrals followed the Chartres model, but several were influenced by Bourges, including Le Mans Cathedral, the modified Beauvais Cathedral, and Toledo Cathedral in Spain, which copied the system of vaults of different heights.
While most High Gothic cathedrals generally followed the Chartres plan, Bourges Cathedral took a different direction. It was built by Bishop Henri de Sully, whose brother, Eudes de Sully, was the bishop of Paris, and its construction in several ways followed Notre-Dame de Paris and not Chartres. Like Chartres, the builders simplified the vertical plan to three levels; grand arcades, triforium, and high windows. The triforium was simplified a long horizontal band, the entire length of the church. However, unlike Paris, Bourges continued to use the older six-part rib vault used in Paris. This meant that the weight of the vaults fell unevenly upon the nave, and required, like Early Gothic cathedrals, alternating strong and weak pillars. This was artfully hidden by the use of large cylindrical piers, each surrounded by eight engaged colonettes. The piers of arcade are particularly imposing; each is twenty-one meters high.
Since Bourges used six-part rib vaults instead of the lighter four-part vaults, the upper walls had to resist greater outward thrust, and the flying buttresses had to be more effective. The Bourges buttresses used a unique design with a particularly acute angle, which gave it the necessary force, but it was also reinforced by thicker and stronger walls than Chartres.
The predominant sensation at Bourges is not only great height, but great length and interior space; the cathedral is 120 meters long, without a transept or other interruption. The most unusual feature of Bourges Cathedal is the arrangement of vertical height; each part of the elevation is set back, like steps, with the highest roof and vaults over the central aisle. The outermost aisles have vaults nine meters high; the intermediate aisles have vaults 21.3 meters high; and the center aisle has vaults 37.5 meters high.
Many later Gothic cathedrals followed the Chartres model, but several were influenced by Bourges, including Le Mans Cathedral, the modified Beauvais Cathedral, and Toledo Cathedral in Spain, which copied the system of vaults of different heights.
High Gothic