Imagine the pomp, the extravagance, the over-the-top costumes and the egos of a French royal coronation. For centuries the venue of choice was Reims' Cathédrale Notre Dame, a Gothic edifice begun in 1211 and mostly completed a century later.
Very badly damaged (like the whole city) by artillery and fire during WWI, it was restored with funds donated largely by John D Rockefeller just in time for the next world war.
The towers, approximately 267 ft. high, were originally designed to rise 394 ft.
The south tower holds just two great bells; one of them, named “Charlotte” by Charles, Cardinal of Lorraine in 1570, weighs more than 11 tons.
The most famous event in the cathedral's history was the coronation of Charles VII -with Joan of Arc at his side - on 17 July 1429.
The finest stained-glass windows are the western facades 12 - petal led great rose window.
The Cathedral is rather closed in by the town, but rises majestically above it.
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