Beauvais Cathedral known as Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Beauvais was consecrated in 1272. It has the highest Gothic choir vault  in the world: 48.5 metres (159 ft). With the later addition of a central tower it became the highest building in the world from 1569 to 1573 at 153 metres (502 ft). When the tower collapsed in 1573, construction stopped shortly after and the intended nave was never built. The cathedral contains probably the oldest functioning medieval clock (14th century) and an extraordinary astronomical clock dating from 1876.

The town of Beauvais is situated 75 kilometres north of Paris in the Oise department. Known originally as the Roman town Caesaromagus and later as Civitas Bellovacorum, Beauvais was severely bombed by the Germans in 1940 and 80% of the ancient town was destroyed. Fortunately the Cathedral survived, and the town was rebuilt in a respectful and modern style.