Chevet (c. 1200-1210) and south transept (c. 1177-1190)

The Romanesque cathedral was gradually rebuilt into the High Gothic building we see today. Work on the new cathedral started with the transept around 1177. However, only the south arm of the transept was completed by 1190. The choir was consecrated in 1212, while the nave was completed by 1230. The west façade was begun in 1230/1235, the north transept in 1240. Both were finished by 1260.

The south transept (c. 1177-1190)

General view of nave and choir (ca. 1197/98-1230)

Work on the cathedral of Soissons was contemporaneous with Chartres and scholars are still debating which workshop stood model for the other.

The nave from crossing

The north transept

The ambulatory

The nave from N aisle

The south transept with its magnificent gridwork elevation (c. 1170-1185)

Choir and nave looking west (c. 1197/98-1230)

Vaults of the ambulatory

The bays of the ambulatory are connected with the shallow radiating chapels through an eight-part vault. The keystone is at the transverse arch at the entrance to each chapel.

Ambulatory

The west façade (ca. 1230-1260)