Rouen Cathedral is a Gothic cathedral in the Norman capital of Normandy, in north-western France, and one of the greatest examples of French Gothic architecture. The present building replaced earlier churches, and its construction continued over several centuries, with an elaborate west facade of the late Gothic style. Its central spire, made of cast iron, is the tallest in France. The cathedral became famous in the 1890s, when Claude Monet painted a long series of canvases of its facade at different times of day and in different light, an experiment in the study of light and colour. It was badly damaged by bombing in the Second World War and has been repaired.
Before and after
- 12th centuryConstruction of Spiš Castle
- 12th centuryConstruction of Edinburgh Castle
- 12th centuryConstruction of Old City of Baku
- from 12th century to 19th centuryFounding of Hanseatic League
- c. 1200Construction of Rouen Cathedral
- 1200Birth of Albertus Magnus
- 12th centuryConstruction of Maiden Tower
- c. 1200sKilwa becomes a great Swahili trading city
- c. 1200sThe rock-hewn churches of Lalibela are carved
More in Civilizations & archaeology
- 710 CEConstruction of Al-Aqsa Mosque
- 990 CEConstruction of Château de Montsoreau
- from 11th century to 18th centuryHouse of Habsburg
- from c. 1113 to 1150Suryavarman II builds Angkor Wat
- 1239Construction of Alhambra
- 1420Construction of Kremlin
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 12th century.