Laon Cathedral

Laon is Gothic near its beginning, built mainly between 1155 and 1235, at the same time as Notre-Dame de Paris, and it crowns the hilltop medieval town. Five of the seven towers once planned were built, and sixteen carved stone oxen look out from them, said to honor the animals that hauled the stone up the hill. Bring binoculars, or simply crane your neck from the square. The interior is free to visit on your own. The towers and upper parts can be seen only on guided tours run by the tourist office, which has limited places, so book ahead.