At the very period when the Mohammedan conquerors of Spain were
building their palace of the Alhambra, the Christians of northern
France were erecting those vast cathedrals which stand today as
the crowning achievements of the builder's art. Paris, Chartres
(shahrtr), Bourges (boorzh), Rheims (reemz), Rouen (roo-ong´), Le Mans
(lee-mong´), Beauvais (bo-vay´) and Amiens (ah-mee-ong´) are but a
few of the long list of French Gothic cathedrals of the twelfth and
thirteenth centuries. From such a list it is most difficult to choose.
Each one has its distinctive claim to recognition, and its distinctive
features which are not surpassed in any of the others. This fact,
indeed, has caused it to be said that the ideal cathedral should have
the façade of Rheims, the spires of Chartres, the nave of Amiens, and
the choir of Beauvais. But even such an ideal cathedral would not
be perfect without the addition of features from each of the other
churches in our list.
Since, however, it is necessary to choose, let us choose Amiens; for
perhaps this church is most widely acknowledged as the finest example
of the Gothic style. Its façade is a masterpiece of decoration. Three
deeply recessed portals in the lower story are covered with a wealth
of sculptured figures in the round and in relief. Bible lessons and
the events of human life and history, carved here in stone, taught the
terrors of sin and hell and the joys of a godly life as preached in
the church beyond these lofty doors. Nor is the decoration confined to
sculpture; for the whole façade, and in fact the entire church, is a
tracery of stone.