Lincoln Cathedral

Lincoln Cathedral is officially known as the “Cathedral Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lincoln” and is located in the town of Lincoln in the East Midlands of England. It’s located right across another medieval structure, the Lincoln Castle.

The cathedral's construction began in the year 1072, and when it was finished in the year 1311, it had surpassed the Great Pyramid of Giza as the highest structure in the world. It maintained this record for a total of 248 years, and it would have continued to hold it had its spire survived until the Eiffel Tower's construction in 1889.

One of the pinnacles of Gothic architecture, Lincoln Cathedral is a beautifully coordinated display of decorative art. The west front is simply breathtaking, with its Norman arches set in a 13th-century screen. The carving on the south porch is noteworthy for its exquisite workmanship. The porch door is a "Judgement Portal" that features a central image of Christ flanked by intricately carved angels, as well as an array of souls ascending to paradise or being dragged by demons downward to hell. A carving of a king and queen, maybe Edward I and Eleanor of Castle or his second wife Margaret of Valois, is located right next to the porch.

The nave is awe-inspiring, with slender pillars of Purbeck marble rising up to the painted ceiling high above. The north and south transepts each boast a huge rose window filled with stained glass. Because of its beauty, Lincoln Cathedral attracts thousands of tourists to visit.

Location: Lincoln, England
Architect: Unknown