Arrival at triforium level in the south transept façade: view to the north
Like Saint Paul we emerge from the darkness into light and our vision of the space of the upper transept is as magnificent as we had anticipated. We are at exactly half-way point in the elevation of the cathedral and the distortion caused by converging orthogonals is gone. Directly in front of us is the north transept with its great rose window and gallery underneath inserted in the years around 1300. Through the colored glass you can see the two slender buttresses that help support the upper rim of the rose. The crossing vault with its more complex rib pattern (a lierne vault) was probably built around the same time. To the left the west side of the upper south transept with its blind triforium built by Master Thomas of Cormont c.1240 and to our right the upper parts of the east side of the north transept with its glazed triforium by Master Renaud of Cormont, c.1250s.
Note: you really should experience this extraordinary space using the panorama (attached below)
View panorama of the south transept