In May, I got to visit England and France — and as may ancient Cathedrals as I could convince my travel partner to include.
In college, I stumbled upon a course in Medieval and Renaissance art and architecture, which was probably the most fun I ever had learning about anything. We spent days staring at gorgeous slides and photos of paintings, statues and cathedrals, including the one in Reims, France.
I always hoped I’d get to see some of the art and architecture I studied in that class, and I finally did it.
No photos could ever do justice to the magnificence of a cathedral, but I tried my best with these photos. I hope you all enjoy them and either have seen or will one day get to see one of these amazing buildings.
Reims was built between 1211 and 1516. That's right -- it took more than 300 years.
Can you imagine a project like that in our times? If we'd started a cathedral like Reims before the American revolution, it still wouldn't be done today.
Can you imagine people cooperating and following a plan begun before our revolution? Imagine how much building techniques have changed in that time? Imagine the dedication and shared vision it must have taken. I don't think we could ever do today what those people did back in the Middle Ages and Renaissance period.
For hundreds of years, French kings were crowned. The cathedral was bombed during World War II. It’s a fast, easy, inexpensive train ride from Paris, and from the train station in Reims, it’s an easy walk to the cathedral.
One of the best things about it was that there weren’t many people inside when I was there, and it was May, high tourist season.