A rather interesting feature of Gothic cathedrals. To make the great stained-glass windows possible, the walls are thin and simply not strong enough to support the roof. Instead, the load from the roof is taken up by the flying buttresses that slope down outside the walls. The buttresses end in small towers that lead the forces down to the ground.

The cathedral is huge, but is nestled in quite cramped surroundings. Not quite as bad as the Tưn, but bad enough! It is difficult to get a good overview of the thing, but the view from the courtyard gives a decent impression. You do need an ultra-wide lens to get it all inside the photo, though.

Yup, it's real gold in that mosaic.

It is very tight quarters here, making it almost impossible to appreciate the cathedral. Walk into the very corner of the courtyard and it is doable, though.