France has some of the most spectacular cathedrals in the world, with soaring towers, carved portals full of saints and kings, and stained glass that fills vast interiors with colored light. Many were built in the 12th and 13th centuries, when Gothic architecture was born in and around Paris.

Quick answer: the must-see cathedrals in France are Notre-Dame de Paris, Chartres, Reims, Amiens, Strasbourg, Rouen and Bourges. In Paris, Notre-Dame (reopened in December 2024 after the 2019 fire) and the Basilica of Saint-Denis are the two to prioritize. If you can add one day trip, make it Chartres for its medieval stained glass.

What makes a church a cathedral?

A cathedral is not defined by its size. It is a church that contains the seat, or cathedra, of a bishop, which is where the word comes from. Each cathedral is the main church of a diocese. Because they also expressed the power and prestige of the Church and their cities, French cathedrals are often huge and lavishly decorated, and in smaller towns they can look strikingly out of proportion with the streets around them.

Cathedrals in and near Paris

Notre-Dame de Paris

Begun in 1163 on the Île de la Cité, Notre-Dame is one of the great Gothic cathedrals and the symbolic heart of Paris. It is famous for its west front, its rose windows, its flying buttresses and the chimeras and gargoyles of its upper galleries, many added during the 19th-century restoration led by Viollet-le-Duc. After the fire of April 2019 destroyed the roof and spire, the cathedral was restored and reopened in December 2024, with its interior cleaner and brighter than it has looked in generations.

Entry to the cathedral is free; you can reserve a time slot online to shorten the wait. The towers have their own ticketed visit. The square in front and the riverbanks give you excellent views of the whole building. While you are on the island, don’t miss the stained glass of the Sainte-Chapelle; see is Sainte-Chapelle worth it.

Basilica of Saint-Denis

Just north of Paris, the Basilica of Saint-Denis (a cathedral since 1966) is often called the birthplace of Gothic architecture: Abbot Suger’s rebuilt choir, consecrated in 1144, introduced the light-filled style that spread across Europe. It is also the burial place of most French kings and queens, with a remarkable collection of royal tombs. Take Metro line 13 to Basilique de Saint-Denis.

Northern France

Chartres Cathedral

About 90 km (55 miles) south-west of Paris, Chartres is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the best-preserved Gothic cathedrals in Europe. It escaped serious damage during the Revolution and both World Wars (its windows were removed for safekeeping), so most of its 12th- and 13th-century stained glass survives, including the famous deep “Chartres blue”. Its sculpted portals are equally remarkable. A pilgrimage site since the Middle Ages, it keeps a relic venerated as the tunic of the Virgin Mary, the Sancta Camisia. Trains from Paris Montparnasse take about an hour.

Reims Cathedral

Reims Cathedral stands on the site where Clovis, king of the Franks, was baptized around the year 500, and for centuries it was where French kings were crowned, including Charles VII in the presence of Joan of Arc in 1429. The present Gothic building was begun in 1211. Its west front holds hundreds of statues, including the famous Smiling Angel, and a gallery of kings above the rose window. Heavily damaged by shelling in World War I, it was painstakingly restored, partly with American donations, and later received stained glass by Marc Chagall. Combine it with the Champagne houses; see what Reims is famous for.

Amiens Cathedral

Amiens has the largest Gothic cathedral in France by interior volume, a UNESCO site with a nave soaring about 42 meters high and a west front covered in sculpture. On some evenings in summer and the holiday season, a light show recreates the original painted colors of the facade. It is about an hour from Paris by train. Read more in what Amiens is famous for.

Rouen Cathedral

Rouen, once called the “city of a hundred spires”, is dominated by its cathedral, whose cast-iron spire (about 151 meters) is the tallest in France. The building mixes styles from the 12th to 16th centuries: the north Saint-Romain tower survived a fire in 1200 that destroyed most of the earlier church, and the elaborate Butter Tower was added later. Claude Monet painted the facade more than 30 times in changing light. The spire has been under restoration, so expect scaffolding. See what Rouen is famous for.

Laon Cathedral

Set on a hilltop above the plains of Picardy, Laon is one of the earliest Gothic cathedrals, begun around 1155. Its open, many-tiered towers are decorated with large sculpted oxen, said to honor the animals that hauled the stone up the hill. It is a quieter visit than the big names but rewards anyone interested in how Gothic architecture developed.

Eastern France

Strasbourg Cathedral

Built in rosy pink sandstone from the Vosges, Strasbourg Cathedral rises above the half-timbered old town. Its single 142-meter spire made it the tallest building in the world for more than two centuries, from 1647 to 1874. The poet Paul Claudel compared it to a great pink angel, and Goethe wrote admiringly of its harmony of countless details. Inside, see the stained glass and the astronomical clock, whose mechanical figures parade daily at 12:30 pm. You can also climb to the viewing platform. Read our Strasbourg travel guide.

Central France and the Loire

Bourges Cathedral

Saint-Étienne in Bourges, begun around 1195, is a UNESCO-listed masterpiece of High Gothic architecture. It has no transept, so the interior forms one long, uninterrupted space with double side aisles stepping up toward the nave. Outside, rows of flying buttresses support the walls, and inside there is outstanding medieval stained glass. Bourges is about two hours from Paris by train.

Tours Cathedral

Saint-Gatien in Tours took more than three centuries to build, from the early 13th century until the towers were completed in the 1540s, so you can trace the whole evolution of Gothic style, ending with a Flamboyant facade topped by Renaissance lanterns. Its 13th-century choir windows are among the finest in France. Tours makes a good base for the Loire châteaux; see getting from Paris to the Loire Valley.

Angers Cathedral

Saint-Maurice in Angers, built mainly in the 12th and 13th centuries, is a key example of Angevin (Plantagenet) Gothic, with domed rib vaults and some of the oldest stained glass in France. Its sculpted west portal still shows traces of its medieval paint. Note that the famous medieval Apocalypse Tapestry is not in the cathedral but in the nearby Château d’Angers, so plan to see both.

Nantes Cathedral

Construction of Saints-Pierre-et-Paul in Nantes began in 1434 and was not finished until the late 19th century, yet the result is remarkably harmonious. Its white stone vaults reach about 37.5 meters, higher than Notre-Dame de Paris. Its highlight is the Renaissance tomb of Francis II, Duke of Brittany, and his wife Marguerite de Foix, carved by Michel Colombe. An arson fire in 2020 destroyed the great organ, so check current visiting arrangements. See our Nantes travel guide.

Poitiers Cathedral

Saint-Pierre in Poitiers, begun in 1162 and consecrated in 1379, is a broad hall church in which the aisles rise almost as high as the nave, making the interior feel wide and bright. Look for its 12th-century Crucifixion window, one of the oldest surviving stained glass windows in France, and its carved 13th-century choir stalls.

Southern France and Burgundy

Autun Cathedral

Saint-Lazare in Autun, in Burgundy, is one of the great Romanesque churches in France. It is best known for its Last Judgment tympanum, signed by the sculptor Gislebertus, and for the carved capitals inside. It was built in the 12th century to house the relics of Lazarus, raised from the dead in the Gospel, and drew pilgrims for centuries. Later Gothic additions include the tall spire.

Marseille Cathedral (La Major)

Unlike the medieval cathedrals above, Sainte-Marie-Majeure in Marseille was built between 1852 and 1896 in a Romano-Byzantine style, with striped stone, domes and rich marble and mosaic decoration. It is one of the largest cathedrals built in the 19th century, and its position by the port and the Mucem makes it easy to visit.

Tips for visiting French cathedrals

• Entry to the cathedral itself is usually free; towers, crypts and treasuries often charge a fee.
• Dress respectfully and keep noise down: these are working churches, and visits may pause during services.
• Go on a sunny morning or afternoon to see the stained glass at its best.
• Bring binoculars or use your phone’s zoom for portal sculpture and high windows.
• Check for organ concerts and evening light shows, which are offered at several cathedrals in summer.

Summary

For a first trip, start with Notre-Dame de Paris and the Basilica of Saint-Denis, then add an easy day trip to Chartres, Reims, Amiens or Rouen. Strasbourg, Bourges, Tours, Angers and Nantes reward travelers exploring the regions, while Autun shows off Romanesque sculpture and Marseille’s La Major offers a 19th-century contrast. Check opening times before you go, since services, restorations and events can affect visits.