Laon Cathedral

The Laon Cathedral is the first example of architecture from the Early Gothic period. Branching from some Romanesque features like rib vaults resting on pointed arches and alternating support system. The original Gothic style architectural interior is the triforium, or the first level of the nave surrounding the arcade. The Laon Cathedral is 78 feet high, which at the time seemed large but was a mere midget to its Reims counterpart built in 1225 and 144 ft tall.

Cathedral architects always wanted to break up the boring walls of cathedrals and they did so by adding stained glass windows and more stories to each cathedral over time. Four of the six towers still remain at the Laon Cathedral. The two bell towers are decorated with bulls to commemorate the hard work animals put forth for the construction of this cathedral. Laon Cathedral has a flat roofed apse, flying buttresses and rib vaults similar to the Romanesque and other Gothic Cathedrals.