The Gothic Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Orléans, France.

I think you will agree with me that the view along the Rue Jeanne d'Arc towards the front of the cathedral is delightful. The very first church was built here around 330 AD and contained a morsel of the true cross that had been discovered in Jerusalem by Saint Helen, the mother of the Emperor Constantine. The building was completed in 450 AD and survived until the late 10th century, when a great fire destroyed the cathedral and much of the town. In the 12th century a Roman-style cathedral was built to replace it. But because of lack of skilled workers, the cathedral collapsed in the early 13th century. The next version of Orleans Cathedral was partially destroyed in 1568 by the Huguenots during the French Wars of Religion, but was rebuilt in the Gothic style with 88 meters high towers and three rose windows. By coincidence, the cathedral was completed exactly 400 years after Joan of Arc had broken the siege of Orleans. The area in front of the cathedral was cleared away to make room for the new Rue Jeanne d'Arc, much as we see it today. The western facade, with its ornate stonework, is the most interesting feature of the cathedral. A main nave of the cathedral, with lots of flags and banners is 140 meters long. During the siege of Orleans, the cathedral was visited by Joan of Arc. You will see stained glass windows, statues, coats of arms dedicated to Joan of Arc. The poetry of the magnificent roses with their color variations is magnificent. The altar of the Virgin on the northern side dates to 1872 and shows four high relief scenes of the presentation, marriage feast, annunciation, and flight into Egypt. The altar of the Sacred Heart is on the southern side. The original of the current organ with a French classical organ case begin in 1631. I hope you can take some time to have a look around the cathedral.