Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Meaux
Rising dramatically above the old town's rooftops, the Cathedral of Saint-Étienne is a textbook masterpiece of French Gothic architecture begun in the 12th century and completed — with a famously asymmetric façade — some 400 years later. This is where the great orator Bishop Bossuet preached to the court of Louis XIV, and every stone seems to carry that sense of authority.
Architecture and Interior
The nave soars to 27 metres and is flooded with light through original 13th-century lancet windows on the north side, their deep blues and crimsons barely faded after eight centuries. The south rose window, added in the 15th century, is a riot of flamboyant tracery that rewards slow contemplation.
Don't miss the carved choir stalls and the ornate episcopal throne — reminders that Meaux was one of the most powerful bishoprics in the Paris Basin for centuries.
The Bishop's Garden
Tucked behind the cathedral, the Jardin Bossuet (also called the Jardin de l'Évêché) is a formal French garden laid out in the 17th century, offering one of the finest unobstructed views of the cathedral's flying buttresses from ground level — a photographer's gift.
The garden also looks out over the old city walls, fragments of which are still standing, giving you a layered sense of Meaux's history compressed into a single glance.
More of Meaux
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore Meaux →
