The present cathedral is consistently enough a Gothic church, but it is not a satisfactory example, in spite of its magnificent proportions.
Of a cruciform plan, and with a nave which was only completed in 1528, it is a poor apology for a great Gothic church, such as we know at Metz, Nancy, or even at Brussels.
Its western tower, satisfactory enough in itself, is crowned with a ludicrous spire, which dates only from 1812.
Since St. Lambert's has disappeared, and the present St. Paul's dates only from the ante-Revolutionary days, the chief ecclesiastical treasure of the city is the Église St. Jacques. It was founded in 1014 by the Bishop Baudry II., but the Romanesque tower to the west is of the century following, and the[{300}] whole fabric was very much modified in 1513-38.
It is a magnificent flamboyant Gothic church of quite the first rank, when compared with others of its kind elsewhere.
It has an ample nave and aisles with a polygonal choir and a series of radiating chapels which are singularly beautiful.
The magnificent north portal is an addition of the sixteenth century.
The interior has been called Spanish in its motive. Certainly it is not quite like any other Gothic forms we know in these parts, and does bear some resemblance to that peculiar variety of Gothic which belongs to Spain.
The choir has some fine glass showing the armorial bearings of former patrons of the church.
There is a beautiful carved stone staircase and much sculptured stonework in the choir.