Reims Cathedral

About

Notre-Dame de Reims Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral located in Reims, in the French department of Marne in the Grand Est region. It is known for being, from the eleventh century onwards, the place of almost all the sacres of the kings of France. Construction of the current building began in the early 13th century.

It is after Notre-Dame de Paris and Notre-Dame de Chartres cathedrals, but before Notre-Dame de Strasbourg, Notre-Dame d'Amiens and Saint-Pierre de Beauvais cathedrals. Consecrated to the Virgin Mary, the Cathedral of Reims was completed in the 14th century. It suffered a major destruction as a result of a devastating fire during World War I caused by a German bombardment.

This is one of the major achievements of Gothic art in France, both for its architecture and for its statuary, which has 2,303 statues. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991. It is the top tourist destination in the country and welcomed 1,500 000 visitors in 2007.

It is the seat of the Archdiocese of Reims and therefore the metropolitan cathedral of the ecclesiastical province of Reims.