Meaux Cathedral, Gothic cathedral in Meaux, France

Meaux Cathedral is a Gothic building 85 meters long, with a five-aisle nave and a choir surrounded by a double ambulatory and five radiating chapels. Its west facade is asymmetrical, with a single vaulted tower on the left and a rose window above three recessed portals. The interior vaults reach 33 meters in the choir, and the stone gives the space a pale, light tone.

The cathedral was founded in 1175 and underwent its most significant transformation in the 13th century under Bishop Jean de Poincy, who initiated a comprehensive redesign in the Gothic style. This period established the architectural identity that has endured to the present day.

The cathedral keeps the tomb of Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet, bishop of Meaux from 1681, whose funeral orations made him a model of French sacred eloquence. A 17th-century organ is noted among its furnishings. In September 1916 a thanksgiving service marked the second anniversary of the First Battle of the Marne, and a plaque honours British soldiers killed in the war.

The cathedral is regularly open to visitors and located in the center of Meaux, making it easily accessible on foot. It is helpful to allow time for a leisurely exploration of the interior to appreciate the architectural details and spatial flow.

The cathedral rises 48 meters to the top of its single tower, while the choir vaults inside reach 33 meters. A tall spire once stood over the transept but fell into ruin and was removed in 1610. The composer Pierre Moulu worked here in the early 16th century.