How to Build a Gothic Cathedral

Gothic cathedrals were the height of medieval architecture—but how did they build these jaw-dropping structures with only rudimentary tools? Here's the step-by-step process of building a gothic cathedrals...

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[Monster_Knight]

am building a cathedral in my backyard, glad you made this tutorial.

[PatrickHunter-hzog]

"Linda clear my schedule, I'm taking a personal day"

[TheMacDonald]

Those pagan minecraft villagers have no idea what i'm about to do to them. . .

[jonathanstensberg]

If you look closely, most cathedrals remain unfinished. While some are obviously lacking major structures, many of the most compete cathedrals are still missing either minor side towers or the intended crowns of the primary towers.

[baselius]

When these masons dedicated their life to building the great cathedrals, they knew they and their children, and their children's children l, would never see it finished, and that their memory would fade away. They knew they did not work for their own glory but for the greater glory of God. Pro majoriam gloriam Dei!

[dieuwer]

When I was in high school, I did a project on the Gothic Style. Even built a Gothic cathedral from cardboard with stained glass windows made from thin colored paper. Placed a small lightbulb inside to light the church up.

[mikethespike]

I asked my wife, but she said she doesn't want me to build a cathedral in our back garden, so I'll have to find a different project to do.

[GK-ercw]

Pretty impressive for a bunch of “dark age, unenlightened, peasants”!

[voxobscura]

Nice. You know a short list of lesser known cathedrals, from less prominent cities, would be really interesting, too. Images, basic chronology, major contributors, etc.

[douglasstrother]

Chisel, mallet, compass, square, plumb & level.

[prototropo]

To hear the peal of cathedral bells, or smelling frankincense as you pass under the luminous shadows of a cavernous transept, is one of life's greatest spiritual experiences. And I'm an atheist.

[mikepowell]

An interesting and intelligible summary. You mention stone being hauled in by oxen. In the case of Christchurch (Dorset, UK) Priory, which is cathedral size, the stone came mainly from Purbeck (along the coast) and Caen (France.) It was mainly transported by boat as was much of the material for Old Westminster Abbey, Rouen Cathedral, Norte Dame and others with convenient, navigable rivers. Cheaper, quicker and allowing larger loads and individual blocks.

[andrear]

I've always wondered how those men were able to build such beautiful buildings ❤

[jirislavicek]

Medieval gothic cathedrals are the most beautiful, elegant and elaborate structures ever built on planet Earth, at least in my humble opinion.

[jimslancio]

Gothic pointed arches (as opposed to Romanesque arches) made it possible for there to be load-bearing piers with non-load-bearing walls and windows between them. That’s what made all those stained-glass windows possible.

[SlayerRiley]

For every house is built by some man; but he that built all things is God.
Hebrews 3:4

[dallassegno]

Remember some of them must also be completed in one year, like so many parliament buildings, and also with zero previous construction knowledge and practically no people. Have fun!

[fredwood]

In a modern day factory, you may do the same job, over and over, day after day. In a medieval Gothic construction site, you might find yourself carving the same stone section of many columns, day after day, for all your life! There might be a hundred "Apprentices" carving those column drums for both structural columns and ornamentation, and as a "Master Piece", proving their mastery of stone carving, they get to carve a gargoyle or even a Saint! Then they start getting paid! Then they get to carve the fiddly bits. Did I forget to talk about the exciting lives of the Carpenters?

[Mark-rmyu]

I'd love to see this process described, following a single gothic cathedral instead of so much generalization.

[maspalfiker]

You can build a gothic church, which might or might not be/become a cathedral, the seat of a bishop.