Gothic cathedrals in France. Gothic architectural style in France

Gothic architecture of France.

The Gothic style received a classic expression in France - the homeland gothic cathedrals.

In the 12th-14th centuries. the unification of the French lands takes place, the state is formed, the foundation is laid national culture. The first monuments of French Gothic arose in the province of Ile-de-France, the center of royal possessions. They retain the features of Romanesque architecture: the massiveness of smooth walls, the heaviness of the towers, the clarity of compositions, the monumental simplicity of forms, and the sparseness of decor.

Notre Dame Cathedral (Notre Dame de Paris, founded in 1163; in some parts it was completed until the middle of the 13th century; the crown of chapels - in the 14th century) (ill. 81-82) - the greatest building early gothic. In plan, it is a five-nave basilica with a slightly protruding transept. Western facade harmonious in its proportions and balance of forms. Calm horizontal articulations are still preserved in his composition. Three perspectively recessed portals reveal the thickness of the basement, emphasizing the structure's stability. The so-called "gallery of kings" runs along the entire width of the facade.. rose window, located under a deep semicircular arch, marks the central nave and the height of the vault. The lancet windows flanking it illuminate the halls of the first floor of the towers. All this is dominated by a cornice decorated with carved foliage. Built on the gradual lightening of forms, the composition of the facade ends with two towers connected by an openwork gallery. All openings of the portal, windows, arches vary in the shape of the lancet arch, somewhat flat in the lower belt and pointed at the top, which informs the entire facade of a slow upward movement.

Reims Cathedral (founded in 1210; completed in the early 14th century)- the embodiment of the national creative genius of France, the place of coronation French kings(ill. 83, 84, 86). The period of mature Gothic is marked by further perfection of the frame structure, an abundance of sculpture and stained glass windows. Reims Cathedral was perceived by the people as a symbol of national unification. Giant temple 150 m long with high eighty-meter towers- one of the most integral creations of Gothic, a wonderful embodiment of the synthesis of architecture and sculpture.

Compared with the Notre Dame Cathedral, all forms of the western facade of the Reims Cathedral are slimmer; proportions of phials, portal windows are lengthened, lancet arches are sharpened. The irresistible flow of lines and masses, directed upwards, is only slightly delayed by horizontal articulations. The main theme is expressed in the energy of the upward movement of giant lancet portals and adjacent buttresses. The portals are covered with five pointed vimpergs, decorated with carvings. The middle portal is taller and wider; Countless design details, the movement of vertical rods, flying buttresses, pinnacles(pointed turrets), lancet arches, columns, buttresses, spiers repeat the main theme in the following tiers in different variations and rhythms, as if becoming like a many-voiced choir. The movement slows down, calms down in the center of the second floor with a huge "rose" and rapidly increases in the lateral parts in the phials, sharp lancet arches of the galleries, culminating in a powerful take-off of the towers. The transitions between individual forms and tiers are softened by the play of picturesque chiaroscuro, which, however, does not destroy the severity of the architectonic solution.

A bunch of sculptures of the cathedral resonates with the bustling town square. The figures of the saints either appear in orderly rows, forming friezes, or gather in groups, or stand alone against the background of portals or in niches, as if meeting visitors and talking with them. The movement of the figures is woven into ornamental rows, obeying the main architectural lines. Architectural and sculptural scenery of the cathedral permeated with a single rhythm and are perceived as a complete whole, as a kind of ideal world, as an expression of a higher order.

Amiens Cathedral (founded in 1220, completed in the 14th-15th centuries). The interior is amazing great height(40 m) and the length (145 m) of the central nave. The naves, transept and choir became less independent parts, submitting to a common unity. In the Amiens Cathedral, features of the transitional character of Gothic appear to its late stage - Flamboyant Gothic.. The classical balance of proportions is violated, the proportionality of the parts is lost; overloading the facade with decorative elements violates the constructive clarity of forms.

In the second half of the 13th-14th centuries. they still continue to complete the begun cathedrals, but the construction of small chapels commissioned by guilds or private individuals is becoming typical.

Cathedral of Notre Dame in Amiens. Plan

two-storey royal chapel- Sainte Chapelle (1243-1248), built in Paris under Louis IX, is one of the marvelous creations of French Gothic. In its upper church, the walls are completely replaced by high (15 m) windows. filling the piers between the thin supports of the vaults. An amazing effect in this fragile building is created by stained-glass windows shining with pure sonorous colors. The western façade is decorated with a rose that cuts through it in its entire width.

Abbey of Mont Saint Michel(ill. 89) - refers to the same time.

Gothic architecture of Germany.

Gothic style in Germany develops based on the artistic experience of the French. However, German art does not have integrity and unity French Gothic. Drama, expressiveness, which distinguish German Gothic, are combined in architecture with preserved Romanesque traditions.

Cathedral plans are simple, for the most part they lack a bypass choir and a crown of chapels. In the exterior of the building the inherent gothic aspiration to the top gets the ultimate expression. Often meets type of one-tower cathedral reminiscent of giant crystal, whose spire proudly cuts into the sky. External forms are strict, free from carved and sculptural decor.

Cathedral in Freiburg (c. 1200 - late 15th century)(ill. 85). The powerful tower of the facade, ending with an openwork tent of stone beams, the interior with a low middle and wide side naves, make a gloomy impression.

Cathedral in Cologne, (1248-1880). The grandiose five-nave cathedral was built according to the type of Amiens. Light towers with gabled roofs on the western façade, an unusually high middle nave and elegant architectural decoration of all construction details characterize it. appearance. Replacing the rose with an lancet window increases the speed of movement. The Cologne Cathedral is distinguished by its dry forms. West Side it was completed only in the 19th century.

In the Gothic era, the importance of secular architecture, private, palace and public, increased in art. Developed political life and the growing self-consciousness of the townspeople were reflected in the construction of monumental town halls.

Gothic architecture of ITALY.

Particularly rich in monuments secular architecture Italy.

Doge's Palace (rulers of the republic; 14-15 centuries), Venice, (ill. 91) vast in size, striking in splendor, largely determines the peculiar appearance of the central St. Mark's Square in Venice. This is a vivid example of Venetian Gothic, which adopted not constructive, but decorative this style. Its facade is unusual in composition: the lower tier of the palace is surrounded by a white marble colonnade with intertwining lancet arches. The huge building exactly presses squat columns into the ground. A solid open loggia with keeled arches, with thinner, but often spaced columns, forms the second floor, distinguished by grace and lightness. Above the marble lace carving rises the pink wall of the third floor, shimmering and vibrating in the sun, with lancet windows sparsely spaced. The entire plane of this part of the wall is covered with a geometric white ornament. Pink-pearl from afar, the palace delights from a distance with the sonority of the decorative solution, which facilitates the forms. The architecture of Venice combines the strict splendor of Byzantium with oriental and Gothic decorativeness, monumentality with secular cheerfulness.

Palazzo della Signoria (Vecchio, 1298-1314) in Florence. The grandiose palace of the city-republic retains the features of fortress Romanesque architecture. The three-story building, built of roughly hewn squares of stone (rust), is perceived as a single closed volume. Its stern appearance is emphasized by a jagged silhouette and a formidable figure proudly looking upwards. watch tower. Built on the site of a demolished feudal castle, Palazzo Vecchio served as the epitome of power free city. In the Palazzo Vecchio, features are outlined that will be developed in the architecture of a residential building, a Renaissance palace.

Sculpture.

The development of plastics is inextricably linked with Gothic architecture. It is the sculpture that holds the first place in fine arts this time. The Gothic cathedral was especially richly decorated, which Victor Hugo figuratively compared with a giant book. The main place in its external and internal decorative decoration belonged to the statue and relief. The compositional and ideological design of the sculptural decoration was subordinated to the program developed by theologians. In the temple - a model of the universe - they sought to embody the religious concept of the history of mankind with its sublime and base sides. Thousands of statues and reliefs were made in the workshops at the cathedrals. Many generations of artists and apprentices often took part in their creation. The focus of the sculptural compositions was portals, where large-sized statues of apostles, prophets, saints followed in strings, as if meeting visitors. Tympanums, arches of portals, gaps between them, galleries of the upper tiers, niches of turrets, wimpergi were decorated with reliefs and statues. Many small figures and scenes were placed in archivolts, transepts, on consoles, plinths, pedestals, buttresses, and roofs. The capitals were woven with leaves and fruits, along the ledges cornices, ribs turrets, flying buttanam ran fast half-blown leaves (crabs), spiers crowned flower (cruciferous). Carved openwork patterns were filled window bindings.

Gothic sculpture was an organic part of the architecture of the cathedral. The principle of unity of all types of arts, their subordination to architecture found a bright and complete embodiment in Gothic. The statues retain their connection with the wall, with the support. The elongated proportions of the figures emphasize the vertical articulation of the architecture. Their dimensions were in exact proportion to the architectural forms. Sculpture, however, also lives an independent life - Gothic continues the isolation of the human image from the general decoration begun by the Romanesque sculptors. The role of round plasticity is increasing. Statues that have become rounded are separated from the wall, often placed in niches on separate pedestals. Light bends, turns in the torsos, shifting the weight of the body on one leg, characteristic postures and gestures fill the figures movement, which somewhat violates the vertical architectural rhythm of the cathedral. In the characteristics of the saints appear humanity, gentleness. Their images become sharply individual, concrete, the sublime is combined in them with the mundane. Persons are enlivened by thoughts or experiences, they are turned to others and to each other, as if talking to each other, full of spiritual unity.

Reviving the plastic conquests of the Greeks(profile image of the face and a three-quarter turn of the figure), Gothic masters go their own way. Their attitude to the surrounding world is more personal, emotional, they follow direct observation, turn to the individual, to unique features, enrich the plastic with many vital details. In the expressiveness of Gothic sculpture, the line, its dynamic rhythm, plays an important role. He spiritualizes the figures, unites them with architecture.

Northern France is the birthplace of the Gothic, where this architectural style was called "ogival", i.e. pointed arch style. The main building material of Gothic is stone. From it, not only massive racks and thin strong ribs (ribs) of vaults were laid out, but also the richest sculptural decoration of facades, thin openwork window bindings and “roses” (large light hole) were cut out. In the north, brick was also used. Wide window openings are filled with colored stained-glass windows. The main decoration of the interiors of Gothic cathedrals is a complex, sometimes bizarre pattern of vault ribs.

The system of rib vaults made it possible to abandon massive walls, moving to a system of flying buttresses (outer ribs) and buttresses (supports protruding near the wall) that were carried outside the building. Gothic cathedrals in the close building of the city most often opened the gaze to only one entrance facade, the western one, most magnificently decorated. His tall towers served as a guide pointing the way to the cathedral in the cramped narrow streets. Gothic cathedrals were built for a long time. Therefore, some of them have towers of different heights and even different shapes. The most striking monuments of early Gothic are the cathedrals in Paris, Chartres and Bourges, and the cathedrals in Reims and Amiens became the best examples of classical Gothic.

One of largest structures early Gothic of France is (Notre Dame), built in the XII-XIV centuries. The towers of the cathedral have a height of about 70 m, but have remained unfinished. The facades of the cathedral abound with numerous sculptures - from the Fall to the Last Judgment. A huge rose window with a diameter of 13 m is decorated with colored stained-glass windows with scenes from the Old Testament. The famous decorative elements of the cathedral are sculptures of chimeras at the base of the towers. The cathedral is known in the Christian world for its unique relic - the crown of thorns of Jesus Christ.

City Chartres(Center), located southwest of Paris, is famous for its cathedral - a "wonder of the Gothic", rebuilt in the 13th century. from a burnt Romanesque church. The cathedral in Chartres is famous for its stained-glass windows, which show not only scenes from the Old and New Testaments, but also everyday scenes from the life of kings, knights, artisans and even peasants. The southern tower of the cathedral (height 106 m) is considered one of the most beautiful church towers in Europe. The north tower (height 113.5 m) is decorated with an elegant spire in the style of "flaming gothic".

(Center) was built on the site old church at the end of the 12th - beginning of the 13th centuries. The side chapels were added already in the late Gothic era. The sculptures and stained-glass windows of the cathedral depicting Christ, the Virgin Mary, the Last Judgment and the Apocalypse, angels, Saint Etienne and other saints make a strong impression.

(Champagne-Ardenne) - one of the masterpieces of Gothic, built from the XIII to the XV centuries. The graceful architecture of the cathedral, its bewitching stained-glass windows and lancet arches merge into a single harmonious ensemble. The interior of the cathedral is well lit through the stained-glass windows, the architectural details are decorated with floral ornaments. Reims Cathedral is the traditional place for the coronation of French kings.

(Picardy) in northern France is considered one of the largest "classical" Gothic buildings of the XIII century. However, the tent over south tower was completed already in the 14th century, and north tower was completed only at the beginning of the 15th century. The cathedral houses the head of John the Baptist, which, after the capture of Constantinople by the crusaders in 1204, ended up in Amiens by the "province of God". Thanks to successful architectural solutions, the cathedral seems to be directed upwards. Its facades are richly decorated with bas-reliefs with scenes from the Old Testament and from the life of the Middle Ages - a total of 4.5 thousand figures! The interior of the cathedral, on the contrary, is characterized by modesty and unpretentiousness.

City of Avignon(Provence-Côte d'Azur), located on the Rhone River, was in the XIV century. The papal residence, for which it is often called the "city of popes." During the reign of the French Popes, the Papal Palace was built - huge, asymmetrical and gloomy. This building dominates the city and clearly contrasts with the houses inside. medieval walls. High walls with hidden narrow windows, powerful lancet arches and wide loopholes make the Papal Palace impregnable fortress. In old Avignon, the Petit Palace and the Romanesque cathedral Notre-Dame-de-Dome have been preserved.

In the era of mature Gothic, decoration begins to dominate. Vertical articulations become the main ones, the pattern of vaults becomes more complicated. There is an increasing desire for external effects. Gothic cathedrals begin to resemble "frozen rain" or "petrified flames." In the XIII-XV centuries. the chapel of the royal palace was built on the island of Cité in Paris Sainte Chapelle("Holy Chapel"). It was conceived as a repository of relics taken from Constantinople in 1239. The lancet windows of the chapel display a unique collection of stained-glass windows, consisting of 1134 biblical scenes. The openwork "rose" on the facade (XV century) is made in the style of "flaming Gothic". The spire of Sainte-Chapelle is 75 meters high.

Located on a rocky island, Gothic (Lower Normandy), dedicated to the Archangel Michael, is often called one of the "wonders of the world." Benedictian monks founded an abbey here in the 11th century, the construction of which was completed only in the 16th century. The eastern altar part of the abbey was built in the style of "flaming gothic". The vertical walls of the monastery, more like a fortress, look like a natural continuation of the rocky cliffs in the center of the island. central part 78 m high resembles a fairy-tale castle. Around the abbey formed small town, the only street of which rises in a serpentine to the gates of the monastery. Actually, Mont Saint-Michel becomes an island only during high tides, one of the highest on the planet. At low tide, the water surface of the Gulf of Saint-Malo can only be seen from the observation decks of the monastery.

City Carcassonne(Languedoc-Roussillon) - the largest Gothic fortress in Europe, located at the crossroads of trade routes between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, and Central. The city is surrounded by two rows of mighty fortress walls with 52 observation towers. In the city of Carcassonne, the narrow medieval streets and the Saint-Nazaire Cathedral with its impressive chimeras on the facade and stunning stained-glass windows are of interest.

City Strasbourg(Alsace) has medieval center located on the island grand isle the Ile River, which has preserved the architecture and color of the Gothic period. Here, at a height of 142 m, rises the tower of the Gothic Cathedral of Notre Dame, built in the XII-XV centuries. pink sandstone. Nearby are four ancient churches and the Roan Palace (the former residence of the bishops). In the western part of the island, the picturesque historical quarter of tanners Petit-France ("Little France") with cozy half-timbered houses decorated with fresh flowers has been preserved. Houses built in a special "Alsatian style" have peaked roofs with many dormer windows.

Saint Emilion wine region(Aquitaine) is located on the banks of the Dordogne River, 50 km east of the city of Bordeaux. The name of this area is associated with the name of the monk Emilion, who lived in one of the surrounding caves. When, after his death, he was recognized as a saint, the cave was turned into a church carved into the rock. During the heyday of winemaking in the XI-XIV centuries. Numerous churches and monasteries were built in Saint-Emilion. It is one of the main red wine producing areas in France. Local varieties of wines are characterized by a mild taste and can be stored for a long time.

History of Gothic in France

Political context

At the beginning of the 12th century, the territory modern France was divided into several feudal entities - counties and duchies. Only a small part of the current territory, the district modern region Ile-de-France, was ruled by the kings of the Capet dynasty and was already called France. The power of the king, compared with the power of the neighboring counts and dukes, was small. The only, but very important, distinguishing feature of royal power was its sacred character. It was believed that the kings are endowed with power exclusively by God during the performance of the rite of chrismation. According to legend, the holy ampoule with myrrh was brought by an angel from heaven at the baptism of Clovis I in 496. Confirmation became an integral rite at the coronation of all French kings from Charles the Bald in 869 to the events that accompanied the French Revolution. This feature of royal power will be the driving force by which the new style of architecture will be imitated throughout the territory of present-day France and most of Europe during the high and late Middle Ages.

The role of the cathedral in the medieval city

The cathedral was the center of city life in the Middle Ages. On Sundays, masses and religious ceremonies were held there. On the rest of the week, there were business negotiations between merchants, meetings of the city community were held, meetings of ordinary citizens and even children's games took place. The cathedral played a big role in education, since the stained glass windows were entire books on religion, history, and crafts. Churches served as a haven for suspected criminals who wanted to be tried by episcopal laws rather than city courts. In addition to a decisive role in the public life of the city, the cathedral played no less a role in its planning. No building was to compete with them in height. Thus, the cathedral defined the skyline of the city and, as a rule, was visible from afar. All the streets diverged from the porch, and the closer to the cathedral, the density of streets and houses increased. By the end of the Middle Ages, the porches of many cathedrals were completely built up.

Place of the cathedral in the urban environment

Origins of Gothic

At the beginning of the 12th century, Romanesque architecture dominated Europe with its inherent thick walls, heavy semicircular arches and vaults. At the same time, lancet arches and rib vaults, the most important elements of Gothic architecture, were used in the construction of church buildings in certain regions. The rib vault was known as early as the early Middle Ages in Asia and was actively used in Normandy. In Romanesque architecture, the ribs of the vault had only a decorative function and did not play the role of a supporting structure. The lancet arch was widespread in Burgundy.

Western facade of the Saint-Denis Basilica. Current state

Basilica of Saint Denis. Deambulatory

Examples of Gothic structures in the south of France

Plantagenet style

The naves of the cathedral in Poitiers have the same height and are covered with convex vaults

The Plantagenet style was distributed mainly in the territory of the lower Loire from Angers in the north to Poitiers in the south. The name of the style is associated with the dynasty of the same name, whose roots go back to the county of Anjou. Main Feature style is the design of vaults, which, in contrast to the relatively flat North French Gothic cross vaults, have a convex shape, more like a dome. So, for example, the keystone of the vault of the nave of the cathedral in Angers is 3.5 m higher than the heel of the vault. Such a system is the result of the Gothic influence on the Romanesque architecture of western France. In plan, such structures are single-nave or three-nave with naves of the same height. Thick Romanesque walls make it possible to abandon flying buttresses, the entire load goes to buttresses, but this does not allow such structures to win in height and lighting. This fact was the reason why this style was superseded by the Gothic of Ile-de-France. In addition to the already mentioned nave of the cathedral in Angers, the naves of the cathedrals of Saint Julien in Le Mans and Saint Andre in Bordeaux, the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Poitiers (except for the western facade) and others were built in the Plantagenet style.

secular architecture

Applied art in Gothic

Protection of cultural heritage

Literature

Links

Notes

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I think it would not be superfluous to “walk” through the most beautiful Gothic buildings in France. Believe me, it's worth it!)

The Gothic style originated in France in the middle of the 12th century. The cathedrals of Chartres, Amiens and Reims are considered the most significant works of the Gothic style in France, but in general a huge number of Gothic style monuments remain in France, from chapels to huge cathedrals. In the 15th century, the period of the so-called “Flaming Gothic” began, from which only a few samples have come down to us, such as one of the portals of the Rouen Cathedral or the Saint-Jacques Tower in Paris.

Chartres Cathedral

Chartres Cathedral or Notre Dame Cathedral of Chartres is the most famous monument of the city of Chartres, 90 km southwest of Paris. The cathedral is considered one of the finest Gothic buildings.

Churches have long stood on the site of the modern Chartres Cathedral. Since 876, the Holy Shroud of the Virgin Mary has been kept in Chartres.

Instead of the first cathedral, which burned down in 1020, a Romanesque cathedral with a huge crypt was erected. He survived the fire of 1134, which destroyed almost the entire city, but was badly damaged during the fire on June 10, 1194. From this fire, started by a lightning strike, only the towers with the western facade and the crypt survived. The miraculous salvation from the fire of the sacred shroud was considered a sign from above and served as a pretext for the construction of a new, even more grandiose building.

The construction of a new cathedral began in the same 1194 with donations that flocked to Chartres from all over France. City residents voluntarily delivered stone from the surrounding quarries. The project of the previous structure was taken as a basis, into which the remaining parts of the old building were inscribed. The main work, which included the construction of the main nave, was completed in 1220, the consecration of the cathedral took place on October 24, 1260 in the presence of King Louis IX and members of the royal family.

The Chartres Cathedral temple has survived to this day almost untouched. It escaped destruction and robbery, and was never restored or rebuilt.

A distinctive feature of the cathedral is that its two towers are very different from each other. The north tower has a typical ancient Gothic base (with buttresses and no big amount holes) and a Flamboyant Gothic style spire, made somewhat later. The south tower, on the other hand, has a Gothic-style base and is crowned with a simpler spire.

amiens cathedral

Amiens Cathedral or Notre Dame Cathedral is one of the most famous Gothic cathedrals in the world and one of the largest in France.

The previously existing Romanesque cathedral burned to the ground in 1218 in a fire caused by a lightning strike. But the small church located near the cathedral survived. The relics of St. Firmin, the first bishop of the city of Amiens, were kept in it, so the church could not be demolished until the construction of the new cathedral was completed, where the relics of the saint were subsequently transferred.

According to the original plan, the towers of the cathedral were supposed to be built twice as wide and much higher than the existing ones. However, they were erected only to half the designed height, as a result of which the towers barely rise above the roof of the cathedral. In 1366, the construction of a tent over the southern tower was started, and the northern tower was completed only at the beginning of the 15th century. Different in height and pattern, they give the facade of the cathedral an extraordinary picturesqueness.

Amiens Cathedral is beautiful from every angle. The slender tower tent of a lantern above the crossroads reinforces general impression aspiration upwards and emphasizes the height of the Gothic structure. Graceful light buttresses topped with pinnacles rise from the base of the cathedral to its roof.

During the French Revolution, when sculptures and reliefs were broken by the thousands, many cathedrals in France were damaged. However, thanks to the efforts of the influential citizens of Amiens, who blocked the access of the revolutionaries to the cathedral, the losses there were minimal.

Despite the fact that many churches were built in the Gothic style both in France and in other European countries, it is Amiens Cathedral that is one of the most daring, original and harmonious buildings of the Gothic church.

reims cathedral

Reims Cathedral or Notre Dame Cathedral is one of the most famous examples of Gothic art in France due to its architecture and sculptural compositions. This is a classic example of High Gothic architecture at its peak.

The cathedral is world famous for the fact that from the Middle Ages until the 19th century, coronations of almost all French monarchs took place here.

The cathedral in Reims has an ancient history. The oldest cathedral building on this site dates back to 401. In the 9th century, on the site of a dilapidated old temple, the construction of a new one began. However, a huge fire in 1210 completely destroyed it. Then the third stage of construction began, as a result of which that majestic structure appeared, which has survived to this day.

The two 80-meter towers of the western facade of Reims Cathedral are the highest in France. They could have been even taller, since it was originally planned to crown them with high tents with spiers, but this plan did not materialize. In addition, they wanted to build five more towers, but this plan was also not implemented.

The peculiarity of the Reims Cathedral is the sculptures that glorified it. Only in the "Gallery of Kings" there are more than five hundred figures. Most of they were created in the 13th century. These are sculptural images of saints, bishops, knights, kings, artisans. Reims Cathedral is often called the "Cathedral of the Angels" because of the many sculptures depicting them. The most famous is the figure of a smiling angel above the northern portal. Reims Cathedral was badly damaged during the French Revolution. Even more severe damage was done to the cathedral during the First World War. Fully restoration work was completed only by 1996.

Today, the majestic and at the same time harmonious cathedral continues to be a remarkable monument of French Gothic, whose sculptures served as a model for other churches in France, Italy and Spain.

Rouen Cathedral

Rouen Cathedral or Notre Dame Cathedral is one of the most important monuments of Gothic architecture in France. The massive walls of the cathedral run along the entire Rue San Romano, one of the most prestigious in medieval Rouen. .

Any, even the most modest camera, easily and naturally conveys all the beauty and power of this incredible structure, which has inspired writers and artists of various calibers for centuries. People in front of the cathedral look small, like worms. Massive front doors seem tiny, like nail holes in canvas.

The cathedral suffered greatly during the war. Before landing in Normandy, the Allies staged a carpet bombing for the whole night. One of the side towers collapsed and damaged the load-bearing columns. In theory, the cathedral was supposed to collapse and crumble into dust, but it miraculously survived. The renovation took twelve years. In 2000, either the same or another tower collapsed again. This happened at five in the morning, and the cathedral, fortunately, was empty, otherwise disaster would have happened. Of course, for such ancient construction have to be constantly monitored.

Rouen Cathedral is over 800 years old. The central tower with a spire is 70 meters deep from the facade - it is placed exactly in the spatial center of the cathedral, which is very unusual.

Two towers overlook the square in front of the facade of the cathedral: the left one, built in the 12th-15th centuries, and the right one, dated 1506, which was built in just 20 years. This later style, with many fine details and an intricate form, is called Flaming Gothic.

The interior of the cathedral

For its more yellow color, the right tower was called the olive tower. Despite the fact that there is more than enough limestone in Normandy, the stone for the Olive Tower was brought from Wales. In addition to the color, the name of the tower has another explanation: according to legend, the money for its construction was taken from the proceeds from the sale of indulgences. And the church sold most of all indulgences for violating the rules of Great Lent. The Rouans loved to eat butter and did not deny themselves this pleasure even on fasting days. In addition, the heads of wealthy families had to fork out for indulgences for all household members.

The central spire was added later than all in the middle of the 19th century. Its height is 151 meters.

Gustave Flaubert, being a native of Rouen, lived in this city for the most significant period of his life. In particular, Madame Bovary was written in Rouen. He watched the construction of the spire and put it sarcastically in the sense that such architecture is the whim of an enraged manufacturer of steam boilers. Up close, the spire really looks too technologically advanced, but no less original for that.

Saint Jacques Tower

The Saint-Jacques Tower is the surviving bell tower of the grandiose Saint-Jacques-de-la-Bouchry church destroyed during the revolution (in 1797). From this beautiful-sounding name it is clear that it was dedicated to St. James (meaning the apostle) and that it was built with the money of the guild of butchers (“bushri” - a butcher's shop). In England, this apostle is called St. James, in Spain - Santiago. The Catholic tradition believes that it is in Spain, in the church of the same name of Santiago de Compostella, that this saint is buried.

The church served as a gathering place for pilgrims who followed the path of St. James to final destination- the tomb of the Apostle James in Santiago de Compostela in Spain. The church was rebuilt in the 16th century, changing the style from Romanesque to Gothic, at the same time a bell tower was added to it - the current Saint-Jacques tower.

The church, declared the property of the people, was sold by the revolutionary government and dismantled for a profitable commodity - stones - in 1797. The bell tower was leased to a craftsman for casting hunting shot: molten lead, falling from a height of 50 meters through a special grate, solidified into small balls in lined barrels of water.

The Saint-Jacques tower is associated with the names of two great people: Nicolas Flamel and Blaise Pascal. Nicolas Flamel was spoken of as the only alchemist who comprehended the secret philosopher's stone and learned to turn lead into gold. He made a pilgrimage to Spain from here, and was buried in de la Bushri, which was later demolished. In 1648, the French scientist Blaise Pascal measured atmospheric pressure on the Saint-Jacques tower. The French honored the memory of Pascal by erecting a statue of him in the tower; 19 statues of various saints have also been preserved in the niches of the tower. Since 1981, a meteorological station has been installed on the tower and in the square.

Looking closely, you can see that the corners of the tower are completed by figures symbolizing the evangelists: an eagle, a lion, a calf and - the highest - an angel. The church after the revolutionary plunder was restored only in 1854, i.e. already during the Second Empire. Her fate could have turned out differently. Hugo in Notre Dame Cathedral (published in 1831) wrote: “For several days now, the tower of the church of Saint-Jacques-de-la-Bouchry has been covered with scaffolding, and in the next morning a pick will work there.” Apparently, in those days, churches were not yet blown up, but dismantled. Saving building materials...

The gothic cathedral in Rouen reflects the theological concept catholic church of that period: aspiration upward.

The main idea of ​​Gothic in architecture is not to express the strength, fundamentality, stability of the building, as in the Romanesque style, but the Christian idea of ​​​​aspiration upwards, to the Higher Forces and the Divine Light. Originating in France, Gothic quickly spread its influence to the countries of Europe, where Catholicism ruled.

France

Gothic architecture appeared in Northern France in the middle of the 12th century and reached its peak in the first half of the 13th century. Gothic architecture is based on a new (relatively Romanesque) constructive basis - a frame of pillars (in mature Gothic, instead of pillars - a bunch of columns) and lancet arches. As a result of the use of the frame system, the walls no longer bear the load from the roof vaults, due to which they become thinner, huge windows began to be arranged in them. Due to the weakening of the pressure of the vault on the walls, the architects had the opportunity to create a feeling of lightness and airiness of buildings. The facades were decorated with lancet arches, a large number of sculptural compositions with plots on religious, everyday and satirical themes, and relief ornaments. The buildings were decorated with colorful stained-glass windows. For the first time, the Gothic frame system, which determined the general appearance of majestic buildings, appeared in the abbey church of Saint-Denis (1137-1144). Vivid examples initial stage Gothic: cathedrals in Chartres, Lane, Paris.

Cathedral in Lana - an example of early Gothic architecture in France

By the middle of the 13th century, Gothic acquires new features, it is called "high", "mature". At this time, cathedrals were being built in Germany (Cologne), the Netherlands (Utrecht), Spain (Burgos), Great Britain (Westminster Abbey), Sweden (Uppsala), Czech Republic (St. Vitus Cathedral). Thanks to the Crusaders, Gothic came to the islands of Greece, Rhodes, Cyprus, Syria.

Mature Gothic in architecture. Chapel Sainte-Chapelle in Paris (1243-1248)

At the end of the 13th - beginning of the 14th centuries. Gothic architecture in France underwent some changes: more decor appeared, the statues decorating the facades had characteristic features: an S-shaped bend, courtesy in poses.

Courtesy is the manner of behavior at court, courtesy, gallantry.

Since the 14th century, city and monastery churches and chapels have been built in the Gothic style in France. Late Gothic is called "flaming" because of the characteristic pattern of window openings, reminiscent of flames, as, for example, in the church of Saint-Maclou in Rouen. At that time, town halls with elements of Gothic architecture and a lot of decoration were erected on the main squares of cities, for example, the town hall in Saint-Quentin (1351-1509). Castles began to look like majestic palaces(complex papal palace in Avignon).

Church of Saint-Maclou in Rouen (St. Maclou - Church of Saint-Maclou) (1434-1470), architect Pierre Robin.

England

Crossroads - the space obtained by the intersection of the longitudinal naves with the transverse transept. The nave is the longitudinal part of the temple, separated from the neighboring volumes by a column, an arcade. Usually the temple is divided into the main nave and side naves. Transept - a transverse nave or several naves.

In Great Britain, the development of Gothic in architecture was slowed down due to internal strife, wars, and church conflicts. The heyday of English Gothic art begins in the 14th century and continues until the early 16th century: English Gothic architecture developed under the influence of the conquests of the Norman and Angevin territories. The influence of Norman architecture affected the clear methods of constructing buildings: until the end of the 16th century, Norman window frames of a pointed shape with rosettes or in the form of a lattice were used. English architects kept the Norman version of the thick walls. Such walls were pierced by galleries and corridors. They built stone vaults with low flying buttresses or no flying buttresses and buttresses at all. English Gothic in architecture lost in height, but at the same time differed in length ( old cathedral St. Paul's in London was 179 meters long). The Gothic buildings in England include: churches in Salisbury, Winchester, Oxford, Gloucester, Lichfield, Cambridge, Ely, Peterborough, Lincoln, York. Canterbury Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Exeter and Gloucester Cathedrals.

Collegiate Church of St. Peter, Westminster (Westminster Abbey) is a Gothic church in Westminster, London, west of the Palace of Westminster. 1245-1740 (Architect Hr. Vrin completed the construction of church towers). Length - 156 m; the height of the temple is 31 m, the height of the towers is 69 m.

In English gothic architecture there are three main areas.

Early English Gothic

Early English Gothic (1170-1300). Lanceolate style. For this period, architecture is characterized by aspiration upwards, as a symbol of aspiration to heaven. A characteristic element of the style is the diverging bundles of ribs of the vaults, resembling a lancet. The architecture is dominated by lanceolate outlines of arches and openings. The windows are elongated in height, narrow, a double window appears - biforia. The sculptural decor becomes more convex.

The main nave of the cathedral in Lincoln (12th century - 1311) is made in the lanceolate style

"Decorated style" (1272-1349)

During this period, the characteristic features of English cathedrals, With central tower above the crossroads, two small turrets framing the façade according to the Norman tradition. Instead of a large rose of the western facade (as in French Gothic) there is a rectangular window. The arches were made lanceolate. An example of a style direction is Salisbury Cathedral (1220-1284), built under the direction of Bishop Richard Poore. The tower above the crossroads was built in 1313-1320 (height - 123 m.) It is the highest medieval tower in England. The temple is 140 meters long.

Salisbury Cathedral (1220-1266), architect Elias Derhem.

The "perpendicular style" of late English Gothic (1350-1539) - this direction of Gothic became an independent English style. The style first appeared in the Gothic architecture of the abbey church in Gloucester in the 30s of the 14th century. The main motif of the perpendicular style decor is an elongated, narrow rectangle crowned with an arch with a pointed top. Such rectangles cover all surfaces, forming a geometrically regular lattice. Perpendicular Gothic in the architecture of England made it possible to increase the windows, almost completely replacing the walls with them. The embodiment of the perpendicular style is the Chapel of the King's College, founded in Cambridge under Henry VI in 1441. Construction was carried out until 1515.

King's College Chapel (1441 - 1515) Leading Craftsman: John Weistel.