Amiens Cathedral was begun in 1220 with the ambition of the builders to construct the largest cathedral in France, and they succeeded.
It is 145 meters long, 70 meters wide at the transept, and has a surface area of 7700 square meters.
The nave was finished by 1240, and the choir built between 1241 and 1269.
Unusually, the names of the architects are known: Robert de Luzarches, and Thomas and Renaud Cormont.
Their names and images are found in the labyrinth in the nave.

The immense size of the cathedral required foundations nine meters deep.
The nave has three parts and six crossings, while the choir has double collaterals, and ends in a semicircular disambulatory with seven radiating chapels.
The three-level elevation of Amiens, like that of Reims, preceded Chartres Cathedral, but was notably different.
The great arcades have a height of eighteen meters, equalling the combined heights of the triforium and the high windows above them.
The triforium was more complex than Chartres, and had triple bays with trefoil windows, composed of two slender pointed lancet windows topped with a clover-like rose window.
The high windows also had a strikingly complex design; in the nave each was composed of four tall lancet windows, topped by three small roses; while in the transept the upper windows have as many as eight separate lancets.

The vaults have the exceptional height of 42.4 meters.
They are supported by massive piers composed of four columns, which give the nave a striking sensation of verticality.
The height of the walls, particularly in the chevet, was made possible by the tall flying buttresses, making two leaps to the wall with the support of an elegant system of arches.

On the exterior, the most remarkable High Gothic feature is the quality of the sculpture of the three porches, decorated altogether with fifty-two statues in their original condition.
The most celebrated are on the central portal on the west, dedicated to the Last Judgement, and dominated by the statue of Christ giving a blessing which forms the central column of the doorway.
During the intense cleaning of the Cathedral in 1992, traces of paint were discovered indicating that all of the sculpture of the exterior was originally painted with vivid colors.
This is now sometimes reproduced by projecting colored light onto the cathedral at night.
Amiens Cathedral was begun in 1220 with the ambition of the builders to construct the largest cathedral in France, and they succeeded. It is 145 meters long, 70 meters wide at the transept, and has a surface area of 7700 square meters. The nave was finished by 1240, and the choir built between 1241 and 1269. Unusually, the names of the architects are known: Robert de Luzarches, and Thomas and Renaud Cormont. Their names and images are found in the labyrinth in the nave. 
The immense size of the cathedral required foundations nine meters deep. The nave has three parts and six crossings, while the choir has double collaterals, and ends in a semicircular disambulatory with seven radiating chapels. The three-level elevation of Amiens, like that of Reims, preceded Chartres Cathedral, but was notably different. The great arcades have a height of eighteen meters, equalling the combined heights of the triforium and the high windows above them. The triforium was more complex than Chartres, and had triple bays with trefoil windows, composed of two slender pointed lancet windows topped with a clover-like rose window. The high windows also had a strikingly complex design; in the nave each was composed of four tall lancet windows, topped by three small roses; while in the transept the upper windows have as many as eight separate lancets.
The vaults have the exceptional height of 42.4 meters. They are supported by massive piers composed of four columns, which give the nave a striking sensation of verticality. The height of the walls, particularly in the chevet, was made possible by the tall flying buttresses, making two leaps to the wall with the support of an elegant system of arches.
On the exterior, the most remarkable High Gothic feature is the quality of the sculpture of the three porches, decorated altogether with fifty-two statues in their original condition. The most celebrated are on the central portal on the west, dedicated to the Last Judgement, and dominated by the statue of Christ giving a blessing which forms the central column of the doorway. During the intense cleaning of the Cathedral in 1992, traces of paint were discovered indicating that all of the sculpture of the exterior was originally painted with vivid colors. This is now sometimes reproduced by projecting colored light onto the cathedral at night.
High Gothic