What is the height of the vault in Beauvais Cathedral?

The vault of Beauvais Cathedral rises to about 48 meters, making it the highest Gothic vault in the world.

The cathedral's builders began the present Gothic structure in 1225, aiming to surpass other French cathedrals in scale and height. Its choir was completed in 1272, with vaults soaring far above contemporary examples such as Amiens Cathedral, whose nave reaches about 42 meters.

The precise measurement varies by location and source. Modern descriptions commonly give 48.5 meters for the highest vaults, while measurements of the central choir vault can be lower, around 46.7–47.5 meters. Thus, 48 meters is a reasonable rounded quiz answer rather than a misleading claim.

Beauvais was never completed as originally planned. The building still consists mainly of its towering choir and transept, while the intended nave was never added. Its extreme height also contributed to serious structural problems, including a major vault collapse in 1284 and the later collapse of its enormous tower in 1573.