2. Gothic Architecture
• At the end of the 12th
century , the
Romanesque style gave
way to the gothic style,
which originated in
France and quickly
spread throughout
Europe
3. CATHEDRALS
• The most representative
building was the Cathedral
• It was the centre of the
city
• There were religious
services inside
• It is a place of meeting for
guilds or municipal
councils
• Cities competed with each
other to build the biggest
cathedral because of it
showed the power and
wealth of the cities.
4. Main Characterictics
• They were very
different from
Romanesque
cathedrals.
• 1- Pointed arches
• 2-Rib vaults
5. Question of weight
• The weight of the rib
vault didn´t rest on the
walls, but on the pillars
inside the cathedral and
on the flying buttresses
(arbotantes y
contrafuertes)outsides.
6. Walls, Where are the walls? mmm
• So, thick walls weren´t
necessary and large
windows could be built.
The windows were made
of stained glass
(vidrieras) and there
were rose windows
(rosetones) in bright
colours.
• Gothic cathedrals were
high and full of light, to
represent heaven.
7. Graund plan
• The ground plan of
Gothic cathedrals was
also different. The Latin
cross shape continued to
be used
• The East ends
(cabeceras) were
polygonal , not
semicircular
• The central nave was
much higher and wider
the side naves
