Bourges Cathedral

Bourges Cathedral is listed by UNESCO for its unusually unified High Gothic design and major stained-glass program. Construction began around 1195, and much of the building presents a coherent medieval plan.

Bourges Cathedral has no transept crossing the main body in the same way many Gothic cathedrals do, giving the interior a long, continuous flow. Its five-aisled plan and layered elevation make it distinct from Notre-Dame de Paris.

Bourges Cathedral preserves important 13th-century stained glass, especially in the choir area. The windows are one of the reasons the cathedral is valued as a High Gothic landmark.

Bourges Cathedral stands in the city of Bourges in central France. Its full dedication is Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Bourges, linking it to Saint Stephen.