Laon Cathedral

Laon Cathedral is famous for carved oxen high on its towers. A common tradition links them to the animals that hauled stone during construction in the 12th and 13th centuries.

Laon Cathedral is one of the great early Gothic churches of northern France. It was built roughly from 1150 to 1235 and is admired for its unusually unified design.

Laon and Notre-Dame de Paris both belong to the early Gothic period, but Laon is especially noted for its balanced towers and hilltop setting. Laon's main building campaign ran from about 1150 to 1235.

Laon Cathedral stands in the hilltop city of Laon in northern France. Its elevated position makes the cathedral visible across the surrounding plain.