ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Gothic cathedrals and churches

Gothic cathedrals and churches are big buildings that were made a long, long time ago. They were built to be very tall and to look very fancy, with lots of decorations and intricate patterns carved into the stone.

The main idea behind building these big churches was to show how powerful and important the church was. People who went to church would look up at the tall, stone walls and feel very small and humble, which was thought to be a good thing.

One of the most important things about gothic cathedrals is that they let in a lot of light. This was done by building tall walls with big windows made of colored glass that let sunlight shine through. Sometimes these windows would tell stories from the Bible, so people could look up while they were in church and see pictures that reminded them of their faith.

Gothic cathedrals were also built to be strong and sturdy, so they could last for a very long time. They were made using stones and bricks that were carefully cut and fitted together, and some parts of the buildings were even held up by very strong arches made of stone.

Today, many gothic cathedrals are still standing and people from all over the world come to see them because they are so old and interesting. They are also important cultural landmarks that show how skilled people were at building things many, many years ago.