This cathedral, completely dedicated to the Virgin Mary, is also a place of pilgrimage. Built between 1134 and 1220, just before Notre Dame of Paris, it illustrates the high gothic period perfectly. Compared with other medieval churches, relatively few changes have been made to the cathedral since its consecration
By the end of the 12th century however, the church had become one of the most important popular pilgrimage destinations in Europe
Since at least the 12th century the cathedral has been an important destination for travellers - and remains so to this day, attracting large numbers of Christian pilgrims, many of whom come to venerate its famous relic, the Sancta Camisa, said to be the tunic worn by the Virgin Mary at Christ's birth, as well as large numbers of secular tourists who come to see this
What makes the cathedral special from an artistic viewpoint is its exceptional state of preservation. The majority of the original stained glass windows survive intact, while the architecture has seen only minor changes since the early 13th century.
