For centuries, Gothic cathedrals have impressed and fascinated visitors. They evoke esoteric mysteries and raise many questions. Where does the concept of a cathedral come from? Where did the builders get their extraordinary science, and what messages did they want to convey?
To answer these questions, this book places the idea of a cathedral in its historical context, before exploring its architecture. Through numerous computer graphics and laser scans, the author highlights the systematic use of geometry in the design of Gothic buildings.
In the course of this richly illustrated architectural journey, the geometric alphabet of cathedrals takes shape, the slang message used by the old master builders.

• FOREWORD
• INTRODUCTION
• QUESTIONS ASKED A THOUSAND TIMES
• AN ETERNAL IDEA
• PASSING THE BATON
• THE BENEDICTINES AND CHARLEMAGNE
• FROM BURGUNDY TO JERUSALEM
• FRANCIGENUM OPUS
• GOTHIC AND MATHEMATICS
• GOTHIC AND THE GOLDEN NUMBER
• THE CATHEDRAL ALPHABET
• GEOMETRIA PRACTICA
• THE ELEVATIONS
• ANOTHER GEOMETRY
• THE PHILOSOPHICAL TABLES
• CONCLUSION
• APPENDICES

It all began with a travel diary kept by the author during his visits to cathedrals. Over time, these notebooks were enriched with notes and reflections, before becoming a book project.
The latter took many forms, dealt with many subjects, before being entirely rewritten to focus on the geometric aspect of Gothic cathedrals. This geometry turns out to be the keystone that unites the book's subjects - history, medieval symbolism and architecture. Thanks to this new light, many answers are provided.

Passionate about medieval architecture, Pierre Bellenguez lives in Hossegor, where he runs a computer development agency.
An independent researcher, he has been taking a fresh look at the secret architecture of cathedrals and Gothic geometry for several years.
This work, the culmination of several years' research and two tours of France, has just been published in the book Les cathédrales retracées and the booklet Les clés de Vézelay.

Note from the author: "I have become my own publisher allows me to retain the rights to my work, my freedom to write and act what's more, I can correct or add to the contents of the book at any time, so that it can be shaped as I wish, without constraints of deadlines, costs or editorial criteria. These are invaluable advantages, but they are far from the only ones...
Self-publishing is the rising in a world where new technologies are redistributing roles and roles and opening up new outlets. The music industry has underestimated the importance of the Internet, and we all know the result. Let's hope that french book industry not to follow this example."