Notre-Dame Cathedral

The Cathedral of Notre-Dame, in Laon

The Cathedral of Notre-Dame of Laon is one of the first great Gothic buildings of France, famous for the oxen sculpted on its towers. The Laon audio-guided tour stops here, with respect, to evoke this masterpiece of early Gothic, emblem of the perched city.

The masterpiece of early Gothic and its oxen

Here is the beautiful Notre-Dame of Laon. Commissioned by the bishop Gauthier de Mortagne, it is one of the first Gothic buildings of France, built from the twelfth century, at the dawn of this new style that would revolutionise religious architecture. Preceding by a little the great cathedrals like Notre-Dame de Paris, it already announces their beauty and their momentum. The cathedral impresses by its dimensions, its long luminous nave, its galleries and its five towers, a rare fact, that rise above the town and the plain. One of its most famous and most touching particularities are the statues of oxen that adorn the towers: according to legend, they pay tribute to the oxen that hauled with difficulty the heavy stones up to the summit of the hill, and one of which, miraculously, came to help an exhausted team before disappearing. Inside, the cathedral keeps magnificent stained-glass windows and a remarkable rose window. A masterpiece of the Gothic and an emblem of the town, the Cathedral of Notre-Dame of Laon is discovered with respect.

What to see

You admire, with respect, one of the first Gothic buildings of France, commissioned by the bishop Gauthier de Mortagne and built from the twelfth century, with a long luminous nave, galleries and five towers, famous for its statues of oxen that, according to legend, pay tribute to the beasts having hauled the stones to the summit of the hill, with its stained-glass windows and its fine rose window. The Cathedral of Notre-Dame is the emblem of Laon. It is a major stop to be discovered with respect.

Practical information

The Cathedral of Notre-Dame lies in the heart of the upper town of Laon, reachable on foot. A place of worship, it can be visited with respect for services; entry is generally free, but hours vary. It is best to check them before coming and to respect the sacred character of the place.

Why is the cathedral of Laon famous?

Because it is one of the first great Gothic buildings of France, built from the twelfth century, and for its statues of oxen that adorn its towers: according to legend, they pay tribute to the oxen that hauled the heavy stones to the summit of the hill; commissioned by the bishop Gauthier de Mortagne, it is the emblem of the town.

Where is the Cathedral of Notre-Dame of Laon?

In the heart of the upper town of Laon, in France.