Noyon Cathedral

About this place

Noyon Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church and former cathedral, located in Noyon, France. It was formerly the seat of the Bishopric of Noyon, which was abolished by the Concordat of 1801 and merged into the Diocese of Beauvais. Constructed between 1145-1230, the Noyon Cathedral is considered to be one of the earliest true Gothic cathedrals built in France and has been listed as a Monument historique since 1840. The cathedral hosted a number of royal coronations, including Charlemagne and Hugh Capet, and later became the baptismal church of the Protestant reformer John Calvin. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, its architectural significance attracted the attention of prominent French artists and architects such as Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, and Auguste Rodin. As you explore, compare the building itself with its decoration and later additions. Differences in materials, forms and imagery can reveal successive periods of patronage, making the visit a way to understand how religious places evolved over time.