The Gothic style, which was born in France at the beginning of the 12^th century and which very quickly spread throughout the western empire, is characterized by its monumental structures and a unique sculptural style that is meant to communicate with the viewers and to teach them the essential ideas of the Christian Dogma. This course examines the architecture and sculptures of the great cathedrals such as St. Denis, Chartres, Reims, Amiens and Bourges. While most scholars have accepted the seemingly hermetic reading of the sculptural programs of these monuments, whose meaning could only be understood   by priests and scholars and interpreted by them, this course will undermine these notions, offering various meanings and interpretations, and thus suggesting the autonomy of the viewers.