
Medieval cathedrals: Façade of Amiens cathedral in France
What is a cathedral?
A cathedral is any Christian church where a bishop has his headquarters. No matter how big a church is, if there’s no bishop working in it, then it’s not a cathedral.
More about bishops
Medieval architecture
Lots more Middle Ages articles
For instance, the cathedral of Laon in northern France lost its bishop when the town got smaller. Now it is only a church.
And the church of Toulouse, even though it is a big beautiful church, never had a bishop. So it was never a cathedral. But most really big medieval churches in Europe are cathedrals.
All about St. Sernin in Toulouse
The church at Laon
When did people build cathedrals?
Most famous medieval cathedrals are in Europe (where the Christians were). Most of them were built between about 1000 and 1600 AD, during the Middle Ages. There are cathedrals all over Europe, in Spain, in England, in France, in Germany, and in Italy.
Lots of articles about the Middle Ages
Romanesque and Gothic architecture

The Romanesque cathedral at Vezelay (1100 AD). This is where Bernard of Clairvaux preached the Second Crusade
The architecture of cathedrals is based on the old Roman basilica. The earliest Christian churches were a lot like Roman basilicas.
More about Roman basilicas
But the biggest cathedrals are bigger and higher than the biggest Roman basilicas. Early medieval architects built cathedrals in the Romanesque style, and then later (beginning about 1100 AD) they built cathedrals in the Gothic style. You’ll find some examples of Romanesque and Gothic cathedrals on the Romanesque and Gothic pages.
What do Romanesque churches look like?
How are Gothic churches different?
Why did towns build cathedrals?
Cathedrals were where Christian people in medieval Europe went to pray to God, and also where they took communion and talked to their priests. People also went to cathedrals for baptisms or funerals. At the end of the Middle Ages they started to get married in cathedrals, too.
What is communion?
How did people get baptised?
What do Christian priests do?
In the Middle Ages, most cathedrals did not have chairs in them, the way they do today. People stood or walked around during the Mass. Or they knelt on the stone floor to pray.
What is a Christian Mass?

Chartres nave
Cathedrals were also community centers
But cathedrals were not only for religious ceremonies. When bishops or lords or kings had important things to say to a group of people, they met in the cathedral. They might use the cathedral as a courthouse. Other times, teachers used the cathedral as a school.
More about medieval schools
It was the biggest place in town that was inside, out of the cold and rain. In bad weather, many towns held their farmer’s market inside the cathedral, or they held job fairs there. People also gathered inside the cathedral for safety if enemies attacked their town, or used the cathedral as a hospital when a lot of people were sick.
Yo this very helpful, thanks!
this is very helpful
Thanks! I’m glad we could help.
I Am Looking Up Cathedrals And Came Across This, But Unlike Many Of You Who Need To Do A History Research Paper, I Need To Know For A Digital Art Art Piece I’m Working On.
Same here, I have to build a representation of this for my class and write a summary about it.
[…] European cathedrals were constructed between 1000 and 1600 […]
what are the two main types of cathedral and what are they like
I cant find it
I’m sure your teacher means Romanesque and Gothic cathedrals, those are the two types. You’ll find links in the article for more description of each type.
what are the two main types of cathedral and what are they like
I think the article can tell you that :)
lol same assignment
Hey Karen I’d like to state that this article is very factual and interesting…Good Work!!!
Thanks! I’m glad you liked it, Gary! That makes my day!
what do you mean brother
Sorry, Jeff, am I missing something? Can you explain?
Awesome!!
i hate this
Sorry to hear it! I’ll try to make this article more interesting.
this article is interesting.
Do you have a source on the section for “Why did people build cathedrals?” I’m writing a medieval history paper!
Either of the books listed in the bibliography would discuss these same points; have you checked them?
wheres the important info
What were you trying to find out?
sooooo coooolll
Thank you!