What is Gothic Architecture?

The word Gothic was first used in the 16th century by the Italian artist Giorgio Vasari to mean “barbarian” for the architecture of the Goths that destroyed the Roman Empire. Today, the word “Gothic”, used in various fields such as architecture, music, decoration, art and fashion, is used to express a certain style. Gothic style is mostly seen in architecture, sculpture and then painting.

Note: Don’t forget to read our article on gothic cathedrals and churches to examine the most important gothic architecture examples in the world. Also check out the history of architecture and other architectural styles from prehistory to the present!

Gothic Architecture History

When and Where Did Gothic Architecture Arise? 

Gothic architecture, which emerged in the 12th century, continued until the end of the 16th century. This architectural style born in France, then spread to various countries in Europe. Every artistic movement emerges from criticizing the previous one. Gothic architecture also emerged with the development of the Romanesque style, and in time it was replaced by Renaissance style structures.

The place where the Gothic style in architecture emerged and developed for the first time is the “ Ile de France” region in the North of France, covering Paris and its surroundings . The first example of Gothic architecture is St. Denis Basilica , designed by French historian and architect Abbot Suger in 1122. Abbot Suger was inspired by the pointed arches and intricate carvings he saw on his eastern travels in the design of the church.

Why and How Did Gothic Architecture Emerge?

Gothic style emerged with the influence of the clergy of the period in order to regain authority over the people.  People lost their faith and started to come out of the church power due to the failure of the Crusades and other reasons.

Gothic architecture characteristics are mostly seen in church and cathedral architecture in Europe. The purpose of cathedrals and churches is to reflect the power of bishops and wealthy merchants as well as to glorify God and spread Christianity. For this reason, cathedrals are designed to impress people with their structures that are higher than other buildings in the city and easily visible from far distances. The magnificent structures of Gothic cathedrals and churches rising to the sky show the power of kings and Christianity over people. 

The Gothic cathedral represents the universe. Every architectural feature such as the greatness and size of the building contains a religious message. The most important message that Gothic cathedrals rising towards the sky want to give is the greatness and glory of God. Sculptures, stained glass windows and murals presenting sections from the Bible are other architectural elements seen in gothic churches.

Churches, which became brighter and greater with the Gothic style, caused this style to spread gradually and to be used in different building types such as castles, palaces, bridges and city gates .  

Gothic Architecture Characteristics

3 basic Gothic architecture characteristics are rib vaults, pointed arches and flying buttresses. Other Gothic structure features are listed below briefly: 

• The most striking feature of Gothic buildings is the longitudinal growth of the works. (This feature can be seen in other art forms such as painting and sculpture.)
• Ornaments used a lot in Gothic buildings. A rich style of decoration is used, derived from complex and interlocking natural shapes.
• Pointed arches are used. In order to solve the problem of increasing weight as the buildings rise, support belts were made to spread the building load. These arches also gave the buildings a decorative and aesthetic appearance.
• Windows and openings came to the fore. In the buildings, the walls have almost been eliminated and natural light has been brought in through wide openings.
• Light has become even more important. The light beams entering through the colorful stained glass windows create a spiritual atmosphere in churches.
• Large doors with ornaments, numerous sculptures and reliefs were used on the previously simpler facades.
• Circular rose windows with religious paintings made with colored glass, located in the middle of the façade, are one of the other important gothic architecture characteristics.

Gothic Architecture Examples by Country

Germany:

The gothic style in German architecture, which was closely linked to the Romanesque architecture at that time, started to show itself long after France and England. Previously it was applied in some of the Romanesque buildings. Part of the German gothic buildings is large cathedral structures inspired by the French gothic style. The most important examples of these are the cathedrals of Cologne and Strasbourg, the first fully gothic building . The second gothic trend is seen in interiors created by taking the orders and decorations of English beggar churches as an example.

Spain:

Spain is one of the countries with the earliest development in gothic style after France. This architectural trend, whose effectiveness increased day by day through pilgrimage routes and traveling architects, was influenced by the French gothic style. It is possible to see magnificent cathedrals built with this style in many parts of the country , including the Andalusia region . The most important of these works is the famous Barcelona cathedral.

Italy:

As a result of the late arrival of Gothic architectural elements to Italy and the emergence of Renaissance thought quite early in parallel with this, gothic works in Italy remained relatively behind other European countries. However, it should not be forgotten that “Gothic” as a word and concept was first introduced in Italy by Giorgio Vasari. The most important Gothic work made in Italy during this period is Milano cathedral, which has its own simple and Romanesque influences. 

Northern Germany, Northern Poland and Scandinavian Countries:

Gothic architecture in Central and Eastern Europe followed a quite different process for political reasons. In 1346, IV. Charles made Prague the capital of the holy Roman Empire and ordered a cathedral to French architects. Unlike the examples in France, important cathedrals in this region were mostly made of brick, and a style called Backstein Gothic emerged. The main reason for the transition from stone to brick is the inability to obtain stone and also economic problems. For this reason, wall decorations are generally less detailed in the works made in the region. Colorful glazes and very beautiful examples of star vault are seen in the buildings.

For more gothic architecture examples, read our article on “Gothic Cathedrals & Churches“. Don’t forget to visit our homepage for inspiration on different topics related to interior design & architecture! 🙂

This Article What is Gothic Architecture? (Characteristics, History & Examples) Was Originally Published on This Website: DeCombo. The Source of the Article is This Website.

Gothic architecture took its name from the “barbarian” architecture of the Goths, who buried the Roman Empire in history. These medieval buildings built between the 12th and 16th centuries; it stands out with rib vaults, pointed arches and flying buttresses. Gothic buildings first seen in Paris and its surroundings in France, then appear with eye-catching works in many important European countries such as Germany, Spain, England and Italy. In this article, we shared the most important gothic cathedrals and churches in Europe. Here are the famous gothic cathedrals we have chosen for you from all over Europe…

Note: Before you start to examine gothic cathedrals & churches, you can find the answers to the questions ‘What is gothic’, ‘When, where and how did gothic architecture emerge’, ‘What are the gothic architecture characteristics’ by clicking on the link below:

Gothic Cathedrals in Europe

Cologne Cathedral, Germany

The construction of Cologne Cathedral, the largest gothic cathedral in Northern Europe, took about 600 years. The cathedral, which was started to be built in 1248, was abandoned to its fate in 1473 and remained that way for 350 years. This magnificent cathedral, which was started to be built again in 1840, adhering to its original design, was completed in 1880. Cologne Cathedral, which has the second highest tower built in the Gothic style, survived the Second World War, when the city of Cologne was completely destroyed by bombs, with minor damage. Cologne Cathedral, where the Archbishopric of Cologne is currently located, ranks first among the most important gothic cathedrals in the world.

Milan Cathedral, Italy

The world-famous Milan Cathedral, located in the Piazza del Duomo in Milan, is another magnificent work of gothic architecture, the construction of which took about 600 years. The semi-construction of the cathedral, which started in 1386, was completed in 1402, which could be considered a very short time (16 years) for that period. The cathedral, whose construction was interrupted due to economic inadequacies, took its final form in 1965. Milan Cathedral, the third largest cathedral in the world, has always managed to be the center of attention of tourists with its ornate gothic facade and impressive exterior consisting of many towers.

Florence Cathedral, Italy

Florence Cathedral, whose construction was completed in 1436 and dominating the silhouette of Florence, also known as the “Duomo”, has the largest brick dome ever built. How this famous dome was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, one of the famous Italian architects of the Renaissance period, still remains a mystery.

Notre Dame de Paris, France

It is possible to come across the words “Notre Dame”, which means “our mother” and “Virgin Mary” in French, in the names of many churches or cathedrals. One of them, Notre-Dame de Paris, is the most well-known and most important church in France – perhaps all of Europe – where gothic architecture began. The church, which was started to be built in 1163, was completed in 1345. The church underwent significant changes during the time of “Sun King Louis XIV” and his son “Louis XV”, one of the biggest admirers of baroque architecture.

Many of the religious images in the church were destroyed during the French Revolution. The church, which was damaged during the 2nd World War, underwent short-term restorations in various periods. The magnificent church was severely damaged in the last fire on April 15, 2019. Millions of euros have been donated from all over the world for the restoration of the nearly 850-year-old cathedral. According to the information given by the experts, we hope that the restoration of the cathedral, which will take 10-15 years, will return to its former glory as soon as possible.

Canterbury Cathedral, England

Dating back to the 6th century, Canterbury Cathedral is one of the oldest cathedrals in England. Completely rebuilt between 1070 and 1077, the cathedral suffered a major fire nearly 100 years later. As a result, the eastern side of the cathedral was rebuilt with gothic style. Archbishop Tomas Becket’s King. The cathedral, where he was killed by the knights sent by Henry, hosted an important historical event. The cathedral was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1988.

Notre Dame de Reims, France

Reims cathedral, also known as “Notre Dame de Reims”, which is the second most important cathedral in France with approximately 1,000,000 visitors a year, was built in the 13th century. Having hosted the coronations of many French kings for many years, the cathedral is an excellent example of the gothic style archietcture.

Basilica Cathedral of Saint Denis, France

The first Gothic architecture was designed by the French historian and architect Abbot Suger in 1122. Denis Basilica. Ancient ruins can still be seen in the basilica, which was built on the old Roman cemetery. At the same time, the basilica is home to the tombs of many kings who lived between the 10th and 18th centuries.

Salisbury Cathedral, England

Built between 1220-1258, Salisbury cathedral has the tallest church tower in England. The Gothic cathedral is also home to England’s largest cloister. Another feature of Salisbury cathedral is that it has one of the oldest working clocks in the world. The original copy of the Magna Carta (Great Edict of Freedom), signed in 1215, which is one of the important building blocks of the history of England and democracy, is also located in this cathedral.

Amiens Cathedral, France

Amiens cathedral, which was built between 1220 and 1270 and is famous for being the highest church in France, is one of the other important gothic cathedrals in the world.

Chartres Cathedral, France

Chartres cathedral, which was built in the late 12th century and is the best preserved gothic style cathedral in France, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1979.

Frankfurt Cathedral, Germany

The construction of this cathedral, which has the distinction of being the largest religious building in the city of Frankfurt, was completed in 1550. This gothic architecture example, which was a symbol of unity for Germany especially in the 19th century, continues to exist as one of the most important touristic spots of the city today.

Other Famous Gothic Churches

Other famous gothic churches included in our list of gothic architecture examples are:

Church of Our Lady in Bruges, Belgium

The Church of the Virgin Mary, which has a full command of the Belgian city of Bruges, has the second highest brick tower in the world at 115 meters high. The gothic church, which started in the 13th century and continued until the 15th century, is famous for hosting the white marble statue “Madonna and Child” made by Michelangelo. The statue, which was stolen by the French revolutionaries in 1794 and by the Nazis in 1944, managed to return to the home after both events.

The Black Church, Romania

The Black Church, built by the Germans, is located in Brasov, Romania. The construction of the church, which is used as a place of worship for Lutherans today, was completed in 1476.

St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Austria

Zagreb Cathedral, Croatia

Saint Vitus Cathedral, Czechia

Lincoln Cathedral, England

Wells Cathedral, England

Orvieto Cathedral, Italy

Westminster Abbey, England

Gothic Buildings in Europe

Gothic architecture appears in important buildings of different types as well as religious buildings. Here are some of the most important gothic buildings in Europe:

Old Town Bridge Tower, Czechia

One of the most famous gothic buildings is the tower of the famous Old Town Bridge bridge in Prague. Emperor of the period IV. Commissioned by Charles to architect Peter Parler, the tower was built between 1357 and 1380.

Leuven Town Hall, Belgium

Leuven Town Hall, the second important gothic building that managed to enter our list, except for religious buildings, was built between 1448-1469. This building, which gained fame with its exterior decorations and magnificent towers, received the value it deserved in the 19th century and underwent an important restoration. The structure, which survived the 1st World War without being damaged, was heavily damaged in the 2nd World War due to the bombs hitting it. Leuven City Hall, whose last restoration was completed in 1983, continues to serve today.

Belfort van Gent, Belgium

Monastery of Santa Maria de Vallbona, Spain

Bruges Town Hall, Belgium

Belfry of Bruges, Belgium

Brussels Town Hall, Belgium

If you have other famous gothic cathedrals & churches that you think should be included on our list, please share them with us in the comments. Don’t forget to visit our homepage for inspiration on different topics related to interior design & architecture! 🙂

This Article The Most Famous Gothic Cathedrals & Churches in Europe Was Originally Published on This Website: DeCombo. The Source of the Article is This Website.