Reims Cathedral
Reims cathedral elevation
One difference between Chartres cathedral and Reims was that at Reims they didn't build a deep gallery over the aisle. Instead, they just put in a shallow, fake gallery, that looked lighter. As at Chartres, this gallery is tiny compared to the big arches underneath. On the other hand, the column capitals are somewhat heavier and more horizontal at Reims than they are at Chartres or Rouen.
The transept and the apse of Reims cathedral were a lot like those of Chartres or Rouen cathedrals, only with still more glass. The apse has double aisles, and there are chapels all the way around for the priests to say Mass in.
Reims transept
Once the new cathedral was finished, all of the medieval kings of France were crowned there when they first became king. During the Hundred Years' War, the invading English army under Henry V conquered the city of Reims, and so when the old king of France died, the new king, Charles VII, could not be crowned. Joan of Arc led the French army to victory over the English there in 1429 AD, forcing the English to leave Reims and let the French king be crowned in the cathedral at Reims, which was by then already two hundred years old.
To find out more about Reims cathedral, check out this book from Amazon.com or from your library:
Cathedral: The Story of Its Construction, by David Macaulay (1981). Beautiful drawings and clear text explain exactly how medieval craftsmen built a cathedral, from foundation to the stained glass windows. For kids.
