The Cathedral of St. Peter in Angoulême is considered by many to the one of the most beautiful Romanesque buildings in France. The highly sculpted façade is the centerpiece of the building; the decoration of statues and bas-reliefs dates from the 12th century. The cathedral had been enlarged over the centuries and the last major work on the building was a restoration in the 19th century. At that time the bell tower was completely rebuilt and the interior restored. Rather than presenting the façade in minute detail, Arms shows off the enormity of the cathedral and its bell tower.