of the stained glass tympanum of the west facade and the rose window by master glass maker Hermann von Münster 1478–1483 Elevation of the spire 1486–1490s Construction of the northern transept 1504 Creation of the stained glass tympanum of the northern transept by master glass maker Theobald of Lixheim c. 1490–1500s Construction of the Gothic choir and east end 1504–1520s Construction of the southern transept 1518–1539 Stained glass by master glass maker Valentin Bousch, including the tympanum on the southern transept 1761–1764 Neoclassical refurbishment conducted by Jacques-François Blondel c.1850–1880s Destruction of the ornaments of Jacques-François Blondel 1889–1903 Construction of a Neogothic portal on the west front 1965–1967 Stained glass windows of Marc Chagall Exterior Metz Cathedral is a Rayonnant Gothic edifice built of the local yellow Jaumont limestone. As in French Gothic architecture, the building is compact, with slight projection of the transepts and subsidiary chapels. However, it displays singular, distinctive characteristics in both its ground plan and architecture compared to most other cathedrals. Because of the topography of the Moselle valley in Metz, the common west–east axis of the ground plan could not be applied and the church is oriented north-northeast. Moreover, unlike the French and German Gothic cathedrals having three portals surmounted by a rose window and two large towers, this one has a single porch at its western front. The entrance is to the side of the building through another portal placed at the south-western side of the narthex, avoiding the usual alignment of the entrance with the choir. The nave is supported by flying buttresses and culminates at high, making it one of the highest naves in the world. The height of the nave is contrasted by the relatively low height of the aisles at high, reinforcing the sensation of height of the nave. This feature permitted the architects to create large, tall expanses of stained glass. Throughout its history the cathedral has been subjected to architectural and ornamental modifications with successive additions of Neoclassical and Neogothic elements. West Front and the Portal of Christ The portal of the west front, typically the main entrance of a cathedral, in Metz is a secondary entrance. The original Gothic portal was replaced by a classical entrance in 1724, which was replaced by the current Neo-Gothic portal in 1903, called "Christ the King." It was designed by architect Paul Tornow and artist Auguste Dujardin. It is lavishly filled with