For being the “dark ages,” medieval Europeans were sure able to produce some of the world’s most beautiful and intricate buildings ever made.

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It turns out they were even more beautiful than we knew.

First, here’s a picture of how the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Amiens in France looks today:

Back in the 1990s, there was a cleaning program underway on the exterior. Midway through the project, scientists discovered something pretty intriguing on the western facade: traces of paint. Further tests were done, and they were able to determine how the western facade was painted back in the 13th century! Then they figured out a way to project the light of the colors very precisely onto the building.

The result? A breath-taking view of how the cathedral looked when it was first finished.

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