At the start of the 13th century, the100-year war and the great plagueepidemics have not yet darkenedEurope. During this golden age, menhave been longing for splendour andcraving for light : it is the time of thecathedrals. An extraordinaryenthusiasm will lead the builders of thisera to erect the most beautiful andimpressive monuments ever built forthe glory of God. The architecturalfeats they managed to perform werenearly impossible and are still puzzlingtoday's architects. Behind the imposingnaves, the details of the stainedglasses, statues and other ornamentsreveal deep esoteric meanings withsometimes erotic representations.Holding the right keys, the visitor willbe able to decode the hiddenmeanings and then have an insight ofthe mystic state of mind prevaling inthe Middle-Ages.

Secrets of the French Gothic cathedrals.Photos and text © Sandrine and Jean-Baptiste Rabouan/Lightmediation

Contact- Thierry Tinacci Lightmediation agency +33 (0)6 61 80 57 21 thierry@lightmediation.com

587-02: "ART-PIX": The angel of the kings' coronation cathedral since Clovis 5th century.

587-01: "ART-PIX": Notre-Dame of Paris is built on the eastern side of Saint-Louis island. This place wasalready dedicated to spiritual activities in Celtic times. A great number of French cathedrals are dedicated

587-02: "ART-PIX": The angel of the kings' coronation cathedral since Clovis 5th century.

587-03: Cathedral of Saint-Etienne de Bourges : detail of the Apocalypse stained glass, 13th century. Thecrowned Blessed Virgin shows her full of milk breast to two bearded men. The white breast is offered to

587-04: France, Cher 18, Bourges cathedral the christ of Apocalypse

587-06: "ART-PIX": The astrological lunar clock in Bourges cathedral was built in the 15th century. Most probably, cathedrals were built according to astrological cycles.

587-05: France, Cher 18, Bourges cathedral the leviatan 587-06: "ART-PIX": The astrological lunar clock in Bourges cathedral was built in the 15th century. Mostprobably, cathedrals were built according to astrological cycles.

587-07: Buttock statue in bourges cathedral. Do these immodest representations hidden in the cathedrals,have any meaning? Until now there has been no answer to these enigmas.

587-08: France, Cher 18, Bourges cathedral the underground way to crypt with its strange statues.

587-17: Reims has been the French kings'coronation cathedral since Clovis in the 5th century. The main gate decoration shows the Blessed Virgin crowned by her son : a special respect to a female figure in a strictlymale dynasty. The Blessed Virgin is steping on the moon while the sun shines above, the scene clearly evokes the symbols of alchemy.

587-09: Bourges cathedral, detail of the western front showing Eve and the snake. Here the snake lookslike a dragon with its paws and wings and in the forbidden tree a bird is eating the fruit of knowledge... It

587-10: France, Cher 18, Bourges cathedral resurection of the death.

587-11 Bourges Cathedral, the Holy Sepulchre group of statues, 16th century. The ten painted charactersare placed near the Roman crypt right beneath the choir. The Blessed Virgin is held by Saint John, Mary

587-12: Bourges cathedral, the Doomsday Gate. The 13th century statues of hell show weird and sensualscenes. Here the devil's tail looks like an erected phallus, the damned souls are spitting out toads and

587-07: Buttock statue in bourges cathedral. Do these immodest representations hidden in the cathedrals, have any meaning? Until now there has been no answer to these enigmas.

587-13: France, Cher 18, Bourges cathedral the grifons. 587-14: France, Cher 18, Bourges cathedral art of proportions.

587-15: Resurection of the deaths. Some statues were broken during 18th century because of indecency. 587-16: Reims has been the French kings' coronation cathedral since Clovis in the 5th century. Brokenstatues during 18th century because of indecency

587-20: The upside down pentagram in the northern transept of Notre-Dame d'Amiens. This symbol is known as satanic. It represents a goat's head or/and the holy crucified in upside down position. Its presence in thecathedral is a mystery but could be understood as victory over evil forces.

587-17: Reims has been the French kings'coronation cathedral since Clovis in the 5th century. The maingate decoration shows the Blessed Virgin crowned by her son : a special respect to a female figure in a

587-18: Reims has been the French kings' coronation cathedral since Clovis in the 5th century. Sensualscene above the main gate.

587-19: Fantasy monster half-man half-animal on one of the gate pillar. 587-20: The upside down pentagram in the northern transept of Notre-Dame d'Amiens. This symbol isknown as satanic. It represents a goat's head or/and the holy crucified in upside down position. Its

587-23: France, Somme, Outer flying buttress of Amiens Cathedral : This technique enables to control the weight of the structure.

587-21: France, Somme, Amiens cathedral medallion of the gate. 587-22: France, Somme, Amiens cathedral medallion of the gate with esoteric symbolism.

587-23: France, Somme, Outer flying buttress of Amiens Cathedral : This technique enables to control theweight of the structure.

587-24: "ART-PIX": Outer flying buttress of Amiens Cathedral : This technique enables to control theweight of the structure. The flying buttress technique has been a major step for the Gothic style; the

587-28: Amiens Cathedral, Saint John the Baptiste's skull. It is a rare fact : datation and scientific datas confirm it may be an authentic relic.

587-25: France, Somme, Amiens cathedral strange being at the towers top. 587-26: France, Somme, Amiens cathedral, statutory detail showing the fine art of the scluptors.

587-27: France, Somme, Amiens cathedral statutory detail showing the sex and behind of a man. 587-28: Amiens Cathedral, Saint John the Baptiste's skull. It is a rare fact : datation and scientific datasconfirm it may be an authentic relic.

587-47: France, Somme 80, Amiens Cathedral, the maze of the nave restaured in the 19th century according to the original patern. Devotes used to follow on their knees the maze line as a symbolical pilgrimage toJerusalem. The maze is also a powerful pre-christian symbol.

587-29: Amiens cathedral, in the stairs going to the organ we find a weird character with a phallus. Dothese immodest representations hidden in the cathedrals, have any meaning? Until now there has been no

587-30: France, Somme, Amiens cathedral view from the towers.

587-31: France, Eure et Loire 28, Chartres. Statue of the Ark with the inscription : "it is here". 587-32: France, Eure et Loire 28, Chartres. The cathedral choir.

587-33: France, Eure et Loire 28, Chartres. A man is listening a fantasy animal. 587-34: France, Eure et Loire 28, Chartres. Detail of a stained glass : the Christ is appearing in the bakerpastry.

587-35: France, Eure et Loire 28, Chartres. Stained glass detail with a child boiling in a cauldron : atypical symbol of alchemy.

587-36: France, Eure et Loire 28, Chartres cathedral the Northern gates newly restored and where the Arkstatue was found.

587-05: France, Cher 18, Bourges cathedral the leviatan

587-37: France, Eure et Loire 28, Chartres. A man beneath the saint's feet is hearing something. 587-38: France, Eure et Loire 28, Chartres. The Blessed Virgin performing miracles in Chartres cathedral.

587-39: France, Eure et Loire 28, Chartres cathedral. Damnation scenes. 587-40: France, Sarthe 72, Le Mans cathedral gargoyle of the tower.

587-48: "ART-PIX": France, Somme 80, Amiens cathedral, painted as it must have been seen by the 13th century worshippers. In 1992 the restauration work showed up the original colors of the painted cathedral. In theMiddle-Ages, people avoided the absence of colours or even dark colours symbolizing darkness and evil. The Cathedral gates had to look like the colourful gates of heaven. Six or seven pure pigments were always used

without any mixing or diluting. Painters followed very strict rules and each colour had a precise meaning.

587-41: France, Sarthe 72, Le Mans cathedral the musicians angels. 587-42: France, Sarthe 72, Le Mans cathedral choir decoration detail.

587-43: "ART-PIX": France, Sarthe 72, Le Mans. The menhir against the main wall of Le Mans cathedral.Till the 18th century, there also was a dolmen in front of the main gate. The stone-age cultual places were

587-44: France, Eure et Loire 28, Chartres. Chartres cathedral maze, 13th century. The Gothic navesoften had a maze but only the one in Chartres has been entirely preserved. The maze is accessible to

587-45: France, Eure et Loire 28, Chartres. Chartres cathedral maze, 13th century. The Gothic navesoften had a maze but only the one in Chartres has been entirely preserved. On June 21st at the summer

587-46: France, Eure et Loire 28, Chartres cathedral maze, 13th century. The Gothic naves often had amaze but only the one in Chartres has been entirely preserved. On June 21st at the summer solstice, a

587-47: France, Somme 80, Amiens Cathedral, the maze of the nave restaured in the 19th centuryaccording to the original patern. Devotes used to follow on their knees the maze line as a symbolical

587-48: "ART-PIX": France, Somme 80, Amiens cathedral, painted as it must have been seen by the 13thcentury worshippers. In 1992 the restauration work showed up the original colors of the painted cathedral.

587-43: "ART-PIX": France, Sarthe 72, Le Mans. The menhir against the main wall of Le Mans cathedral. Till the 18th century, there also was a dolmen in front of the main gate. The stone-age cultual places were usedby the Celts and later by the christians. Some specialists believe the cathedrals were built according to a presumed ancient knowledge of telluric forces.

Secrets of theFrench Gothiccathedrals.Captions.

587-01: "ART-PIX": Notre-Dame of Parisis built on the eastern side of Saint-Louisisland. This place was already dedicatedto spiritual activities in Celtic times. Agreat number of French cathedrals arededicated to Notre-Dame (the BlessedVirgin) and are located near springs orrivers : it evokes Sirona, the Celtic Godessof the water element.

587-02: "ART-PIX": The angel of thekings' coronation cathedral since Clovis5th century.

587-03: Cathedral of Saint-Etienne deBourges : detail of the Apocalypse stainedglass, 13th century. The crowned BlessedVirgin shows her full of milk breast to twobearded men. The white breast is offeredto the brown man and the brown breast tothe white man... There is a deep esotericmeaning hidden in the details of ancientstained glasses.

587-04: France, Cher 18, Bourgescathedral the christ of Apocalypse

587-05: France, Cher 18, Bourgescathedral the leviatan

587-06: "ART-PIX": The astrological lunarclock in Bourges cathedral was built in the15th century. Most probably, cathedralswere built according to astrological cycles.

587-07: Buttock statue in bourgescathedral. Do these immodestrepresentations hidden in the cathedrals,have any meaning? Until now there hasbeen no answer to these enigmas.

587-08: France, Cher 18, Bourgescathedral the underground way to cryptwith its strange statues.

587-09: Bourges cathedral, detail of thewestern front showing Eve and the snake.Here the snake looks like a dragon with itspaws and wings and in the forbidden treea bird is eating the fruit of knowledge... Itseems that this Biblical scene conceals aspecial meaning using symbols ofalchemy.

587-10: France, Cher 18, Bourgescathedral resurection of the death.

587-11 Bourges Cathedral, the HolySepulchre group of statues, 16th century.The ten painted characters are placednear the Roman crypt right beneath thechoir. The Blessed Virgin is held by SaintJohn, Mary Magdalen is carrying themedicines, Nicodemus and Joseph ofArimathies are placing the shroud and onone side an unidentified female characteris standing...

587-12: Bourges cathedral, the DoomsdayGate. The 13th century statues of hellshow weird and sensual scenes. Here thedevil's tail looks like an erected phallus,the damned souls are spitting out toadsand faces appear on the devils' bellies andbreasts...

587-13: France, Cher 18, Bourgescathedral the grifons.

587-14: France, Cher 18, Bourges

cathedral art of proportions.

587-15: Resurection of the deaths. Somestatues were broken during 18th centurybecause of indecency.

587-16: Reims has been the French kings'coronation cathedral since Clovis in the5th century. Broken statues during 18thcentury because of indecency

587-17: Reims has been the Frenchkings'coronation cathedral since Clovis inthe 5th century. The main gate decorationshows the Blessed Virgin crowned by herson : a special respect to a female figurein a strictly male dynasty. The BlessedVirgin is steping on the moon while thesun shines above, the scene clearlyevokes the symbols of alchemy.

587-18: Reims has been the French kings'coronation cathedral since Clovis in the5th century. Sensual scene above themain gate.

587-19: Fantasy monster half-manhalf-animal on one of the gate pillar.

587-20: The upside down pentagram inthe northern transept of Notre-Damed'Amiens. This symbol is known assatanic. It represents a goat's head or/andthe holy crucified in upside down position.Its presence in the cathedral is a mysterybut could be understood as victory overevil forces.

587-21: France, Somme, Amienscathedral medallion of the gate.

587-22: France, Somme, Amienscathedral medallion of the gate withesoteric symbolism.

587-23: France, Somme, Outer flying

buttress of Amiens Cathedral : Thistechnique enables to control the weight ofthe structure.

587-24: "ART-PIX": Outer flying buttressof Amiens Cathedral : This techniqueenables to control the weight of thestructure. The flying buttress techniquehas been a major step for the Gothic style;the structure doesn't need thick walls andlarge overtures can be made to let thelight enter.

587-25: France, Somme, Amienscathedral strange being at the towers top.

587-26: France, Somme, Amienscathedral, statutory detail showing the fineart of the scluptors.

587-27: France, Somme, Amienscathedral statutory detail showing the sexand behind of a man.

587-28: Amiens Cathedral, Saint John theBaptiste's skull. It is a rare fact : datationand scientific datas confirm it may be anauthentic relic.

587-29: Amiens cathedral, in the stairsgoing to the organ we find a weirdcharacter with a phallus. Do theseimmodest representations hidden in thecathedrals, have any meaning? Until nowthere has been no answer to theseenigmas.

587-30: France, Somme, Amienscathedral view from the towers.

587-31: France, Eure et Loire 28,Chartres. Statue of the Ark with theinscription : "it is here".

587-32: France, Eure et Loire 28,Chartres. The cathedral choir.

animal.

587-34: France, Eure et Loire 28, Chartres. Detail of a stained glass : theChrist is appearing in the baker pastry.

587-35: France, Eure et Loire 28, Chartres. Stained glass detail with a childboiling in a cauldron : a typical symbol of alchemy.

587-36: France, Eure et Loire 28, Chartres cathedral the Northern gatesnewly restored and where the Ark statue was found.

587-37: France, Eure et Loire 28, Chartres. A man beneath the saint's feetis hearing something.

587-38: France, Eure et Loire 28, Chartres. The Blessed Virgin performingmiracles in Chartres cathedral.

587-39: France, Eure et Loire 28, Chartres cathedral. Damnation scenes.

587-40: France, Sarthe 72, Le Mans cathedral gargoyle of the tower.

587-41: France, Sarthe 72, Le Mans cathedral the musicians angels.

587-42: France, Sarthe 72, Le Mans cathedral choir decoration detail.

587-43: "ART-PIX": France, Sarthe 72, Le Mans. The menhir against themain wall of Le Mans cathedral. Till the 18th century, there also was adolmen in front of the main gate. The stone-age cultual places were used bythe Celts and later by the christians. Some specialists believe the cathedralswere built according to a presumed ancient knowledge of telluric forces.

587-44: France, Eure et Loire 28, Chartres. Chartres cathedral maze, 13thcentury. The Gothic naves often had a maze but only the one in Chartres

has been entirely preserved. The maze is accessible to faithful only once aweek.

587-45: France, Eure et Loire 28, Chartres. Chartres cathedral maze, 13thcentury. The Gothic naves often had a maze but only the one in Chartreshas been entirely preserved. On June 21st at the summer solstice, a ray oflight comes through a hole made in the stained glass and hits a copper nailin the maze. In the 13th century the holy architecture certainly had gnosticmeanings we do not understand today.

587-46: France, Eure et Loire 28, Chartres cathedral maze, 13th century.The Gothic naves often had a maze but only the one in Chartres has beenentirely preserved. On June 21st at the summer solstice, a ray of lightcomes through a hole made in the stained glass and hits a copper nail in themaze. In the 13th century the holy architecture certainly had gnosticmeanings we do not understand today.

587-47: France, Somme 80, Amiens Cathedral, the maze of the naverestaured in the 19th century according to the original patern. Devotes usedto follow on their knees the maze line as a symbolical pilgrimage toJerusalem. The maze is also a powerful pre-christian symbol.

587-48: "ART-PIX": France, Somme 80, Amiens cathedral, painted as itmust have been seen by the 13th century worshippers. In 1992 therestauration work showed up the original colors of the painted cathedral. Inthe Middle-Ages, people avoided the absence of colours or even darkcolours symbolizing darkness and evil. The Cathedral gates had to look likethe colourful gates of heaven. Six or seven pure pigments were always usedwithout any mixing or diluting. Painters followed very strict rules and eachcolour had a precise meaning.