Reims Cathedral in northeastern France is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture and the church in which most French kings were crowned. Its tradition goes back to the baptism of Clovis, king of the Franks, by Saint Remigius around the end of the 5th century. The present building was started in 1211 on the site of an earlier church, and its sculpture is famed, with the Smiling Angel on the facade among its best-known figures. Its main structure was largely finished in the 13th century, and the towers followed in later years. It was badly damaged by German shelling during the First World War and was restored with the help of international donations. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Before and after
- 1272Rise of House of Bourbon
- 17 December 1273Death of Rumi
- 1274Mongol invasions of Japan
- 7 March 1274Death of Thomas Aquinas
- 1275Construction of Reims Cathedral
- c. 1275Construction of the Hofburg Palace
- c. 1276Birth of Giotto
- from 1277 to 1287First Mongol invasion of Burma
- 1279Kublai Khan completes the conquest of China
More in Civilizations & archaeology
- from 618 CE to 907 CETang dynasty
- 637 CEConstruction of Potala Palace
- from 750 CE to 1258Abbasid Caliphate
- 778 CEConstruction of Kiyomizu-dera
- from 29 July 1299 to 17 November 1922Ottoman Empire
- 1460Construction of Topkapı Palace
The era
This moment belongs to the Medieval world (500 CE to 1500 CE), kingdoms, faiths and trade routes. You can also browse everything in the 13th century.