# Interior view [View the canonical artwork record]() ## Artwork - Artist: [ARCHITECT, French]() - Date: 1151-1200 - Technique: Photo ## Commentary The choir of Coutances, probably begun around 1220, presents a completely new building. The exterior is characterized by a sharp contrast between the protruding stories and the huge buttresses, which in effect are gabled walls. Along with some stairway towers topped by stone turrets, they lead the eye up to the crossing tower, which not only dominates the exterior of the cathedral but creates a unique impression when seen from the inside. It rises above the richly profiled crossing arches like a huge, yet delicately constructed, light-filled lantern. View the <a href="\#" onClick="w=window.open \('/support/plans/zzzarchi/12c/2/2/coutance.html', 'newWin', 'scrollbars=yes,status=no,dependent=yes,screenX=0,screenY=0,width=400,height=600'\);w.opener=this;w.focus\(\);return false">ground plan</a> of the Cathedral of Coutances. ## Related artworks - [Aerial view]() - [Aerial view]() - [Aerial view]() - [Aerial view]() - [Aerial view]() - [Aerial view]() - [Aerial view]() - [Aerial view]() - [Aerial view]() - [Bird's eye view]() - [Burial lantern]() - [Castle]() ## Attribution [Web Gallery of Art]()