Sens Cathedral

Sens Cathedral, begun around 1135, is considered one of the earliest Gothic cathedrals ever built, predating Chartres and employing a six-ribbed vault design that influenced subsequent Gothic architecture. Chartres later adopted the flying buttches and high clerestory windows that became Gothic standards, but Sens helped establish the pointed arch and ribbed vault as foundational elements.

Yes, Sens Cathedral is open to visitors in Sens, Burgundy, France, and you can walk through the choir and ambulatory which feature impressive Gothic stonework. The ambulatory also houses a collection of medieval stained glass that is among the oldest surviving in any Gothic structure.

Before Sens Cathedral, the dominant style in the region was Romanesque, characterized by thick walls, rounded arches, and barrel vaults. Sens broke from this by introducing Gothic elements like the pointed arch and ribbed vault, making it a transitional and pioneering structure.

William of Sens, who later led the reconstruction of Canterbury Cathedral in England after its 1174 fire, was directly influenced by the architectural innovations at Sens Cathedral. This connection helped transmit early Gothic style from France to England.

Sens Cathedral houses an important cathedral treasury that includes medieval liturgical objects, manuscripts, and textiles. The treasury has been a significant draw for pilgrims and art historians studying medieval ecclesiastical craftsmanship.

The main body of Sens Cathedral was largely completed by the early 13th century, though modifications and additions continued over subsequent centuries. The choir was finished first, around 1164, allowing services to begin while the nave was still under construction.

Sens Cathedral is connected to the Thomas Becket story because Becket spent part of his exile in Sens and consecrated the cathedral's main altar during his time there. After Becket's martyrdom, Sens became part of the pilgrimage network tied to his legacy.

Construction of Sens Cathedral spanned roughly a century from its founding around 1135, with the nave and towers completed in stages over the following decades. Later Gothic and even some 19th-century restorations under Viollet-le-Duc further shaped its current appearance.