Construction of medieval temples in Europe. Brief description in architecture

St. Stephen's Cathedral, located in the heart of Vienna, has survived many wars and is now a symbol of the city's freedom. The Gothic cathedral stands on the ruins of two previous churches. Its construction began in the 14th century. And the most recognizable characteristic of the cathedral - a tiled roof depicting the national coat of arms and the coat of arms of the city of Vienna, was added only in 1952.

2. Burgos Cathedral. Burgos, Spain.

Cathedral Burgos (Burgos Cathedral) - a medieval cathedral in the city of the same name, dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It is famous for its huge size and unique gothic architecture. The construction of the cathedral began in 1221, and after a long break of almost two centuries, it was completed in 1567. In 1919, the cathedral became the burial place of the Spanish national hero Rodrigo Diaz de Vivara (El Cid Campeador) and his wife Jimena Diaz.

3. Reims Cathedral. Reims, France.

Reims Cathedral is the place where numerous French monarchs were officially crowned. It was built on the site of the basilica, where once (about 496) Clovis I, one of the greatest politicians of his time, was baptized by Saint Remy. The construction of the cathedral was completed by the end of the 13th century.

4. Milan Cathedral. Milan, Italy.

An exceptionally large and complex Gothic cathedral on main square Milan is one of the most famous buildings in Europe. This is one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in the world. Construction began in 1386 and was completed only five centuries later.

5. Seville Cathedral. Seville, Spain.

Situated on the site of the majestic Almohada Mosque, the medieval cathedral was built to showcase the power and wealth of Seville after the long process of the Reconquista. When completed in the 16th century, it superseded Hagia Sophia as the largest in the world. The builders used some of the columns and elements of the former mosque. The most famous Giralda is a tower with rich patterns and ornaments, formerly a minaret, and transformed into a bell tower.

6. York Minster York, England.

One of the two largest Gothic cathedrals in Northern Europe(along with the Cologne Cathedral in Germany). York Minster rises above the skyline in the eponymous ancient city and includes all stages of Gothic architectural development in England. The construction of the present building was begun around 1230 and completed in 1472. The cathedral is famous for its largest medieval stained-glass windows.

7. Notre Dame Cathedral. Paris, France.

Notre Dame de Paris is a beautiful Catholic cathedral in the fourth arrondissement of Paris. Construction, begun in 1163, was completed only in 1345. During the French Revolution in 1790 most of sculptures and treasures was destroyed and looted. It was here that Napoleon Bonaparte was crowned emperor on December 2, 1804.

8. Cologne Cathedral. Cologne, Germany.

Cologne Cathedral has been the most famous symbol of the city for many centuries. Its height is 157.4 meters. famous cathedral stands on the site where a Roman temple was located in the 4th century. Construction of the Gothic cathedral began in 1248 and continued intermittently for more than 600 years. The cathedral is dedicated to Saints Peter and Mary and is the main temple of the Cologne Archdiocese.

9. Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. Florence, Italy.

Construction began in 1296 in gothic style was completed in 1436. The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is the symbol of the city and one of beautiful buildings Florence. Notable are the outer walls of the basilica, lined with beautiful marble panels of various shades: green, white, pink. And the huge brick dome is also impressive.

10. Chartres Cathedral. Chartres, France.

Chartres Cathedral is located in the city of the same name near Paris. Its merit, besides being one of the finest examples of French High Gothic, is that it has been almost perfectly preserved. Most of the cathedral's original stained glass windows have remained intact, while the architecture has seen only minor changes since the early 13th century.

Cathedral - when reading this word, a majestic building, made with a frantic design intent, inevitably comes to mind. As a rule, the cathedral is one of the main city temples, the creation of which is necessarily associated with an important for the country historical event. That is why the construction of cathedrals has always taken place on an extraordinary scale. Despite the many beautiful temples around the world, the first lines of the rating of cathedrals in size were occupied by European buildings. So, it will be interesting to study information about the most great cathedrals Europe.

The first in the list of the highest cathedrals not only in Europe, but throughout the world, is Ulm Cathedral, which is located in the city of the same name Ulm, Germany. The height of the structure, together with the bell spire, is 161.5 meters. Visitors to this giant have the opportunity to climb the most high point cathedrals on stone spiral staircases. An interesting fact is that the construction of Ulm Cathedral took place over 5 centuries, starting in 1377, ending with the construction of the spire in 1890. It is also noteworthy that, according to legend, during the construction of the temple, the unlucky builders were faced with the task of how to carry huge logs through the gate. While the builders were struggling to figure out how to get a log into the city, which did not fit through the city gates in height, one of them noticed a sparrow carrying straws to his dwelling parallel to the ground. A solution was found, Ulm Cathedral was built, and the sparrow became a symbol of the city. It is his sculpture with a twig in its beak that rises on the main roof of the building.

The construction of the second largest cathedral in Europe began in 1248 and took place in two stages due to financial problems. 1880 was marked by the discovery of the tall building in the world, which for the whole 4 years was the Cologne Cathedral, located in Germany, the city of Cologne. The height of the structure with the spire is 157 meters. Today, this architectural creation has the largest church facade in the world, as well as the largest working bell. When examining the building, one should not forget that its construction affected two eras, for example, the western facade, which more attracts the views of enthusiastic tourists, was built in the 19th century and embodied the Neo-Gothic style, while the rest of the building contains elements and features classic gothic. The largest bell in the world is called "St. Peter" and weighs 24 tons, and the weight of its bell tongue is 800 kilograms.

The next record holder by right was the Notre Dame Cathedral in France, the city of Rouen. The building is included in the list of monuments of the national French heritage, is a cathedral with the highest cast-iron tower in the world (151 meters). The construction of the French miracle began in 1145, but after a severe fire, only the walls were saved north tower Saint-Romain, the restoration of which turned into the construction of the southern part of the building and the Oil Tower, the creation of which ended in 1880. It is noteworthy that the great artist Monet in the 19th century created a series of paintings that depicted the history of the great cathedral, its ups and downs. In total, the cycle has 50 canvases.

Strasbourg Cathedral is located in France and for more than 200 years was considered the world's tallest church building. The height of the building is 142 meters and today it is the sixth highest cathedral in the world. An interesting and most visited place of the cathedral are astronomical clock, which were made back in 1574 and even then had astronomical functions. These include the watch's ability to calculate the starting point from the new year to the holidays, the dates of which fall on different days every year. There is a tradition in Strasbourg that summer evenings various color performances are broadcast on the walls of the cathedral to the works of world classical music.

The most capacious European cathedral is St. Peter's Cathedral, which is located in the Vatican on the famous square, which has the same name with the cathedral. The building is considered the central ceremonial site catholic church, the capacity of the cathedral is 60,000 people. The construction began to be erected in 326, but it was finally completed only in the 17th century, when, at the request of Paul V, the eastern part was lengthened. The 17th century was also marked by the appearance of a square near the cathedral, which was conceived for the gathering of people to receive the blessing of the Pope. The following people worked on the decoration of the cathedral famous architects and artists like Raphael, Michelangelo, Bernini and others.

Despite the capacity of St. Peter's Basilica, the largest cathedral in the world by area is not he, but Milan Cathedral. The length of the building is 158 meters, the width is 93 meters, and this building also has the highest spire in Europe in terms of the height of the central nave (47 m). Milan Cathedral is the only Gothic cathedral made of marble. The altar of this miracle is decorated with one of the most valuable relics of antiquity - a nail from the crucifixion of Christ.

St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague is rightfully considered not only one of the largest, but also the longest Catholic church in the world; the length of the main nave of the cathedral is 124 meters. The date of foundation of the building is 925, but the peak of its development fell on 1350-1930. Inside, the cathedral offers visitors a wonderful gothic panorama, smoothly turning into a choir area with huge stained-glass windows.

The longest cathedral along the length of the central nave (169 meters) is Winchester Cathedral, Hampshire, UK.
The cathedral began to be built on the initiative of Kenwal, King of Wessex. The construction was completed in 648. Such important events for the history of Britain took place in the cathedral, such as the Coronation of Henry the Younger and his wife Margaret of France (1172), the Second Coronation of Richard the Lionheart (1194), the Marriage of Henry IV and Joan of Navarre (1403), marriage of Mary I and Philip II (1554). The building attracts the attention of tourists not only for its size and architectural delights, but also for the burial place of the famous British writer Jane Austen and the filming of the film The Da Vinci Code in 2005.

The cathedral is widely known for its large stained-glass window. The height of the largest stained-glass window is 24 meters, the width is 11.6 meters. It is this building that is the Hogwarts school in the popular film masterpiece Harry Potter. The construction of the cathedral took place in the distant 11th century. In this building, the coronation of one of the most famous figures of the British monarchy, Henry III, took place.

Many people took part in the construction of the cathedral: for example, in the 40s. In the 12th century, thousands of Norman pilgrims came to Chartres and for several months rolled in stone blocks in the walls of the cathedral, reaching two or three meters in length and one meter in height. The western façade is the only thing left of the previous building. Its creation dates back to 1170. The façade is adorned with three portals richly decorated with magnificent stone bas-reliefs, referring to XII century. From the north and from the south, on the facades of the building, one can see a huge round lace window, very characteristic of French Gothic, into the openings of which colored stained-glass windows are inserted in lead bindings. The transept windows are 13 meters in diameter. A similar window entered the history of art under the name "rose". It first appeared in Chartres Cathedral, allegedly commissioned by King Louis IX Saint and his wife Queen Blanca of Castile. On the stained-glass windows of the "rose" you can see the coats of arms of France and Castile, scenes from the earthly life of the Mother of God and scenes of the Last Judgment. The cathedral in Chartres is better illuminated than the Parisian one, thanks to the high windows of the nave, the openwork chapels of the vast five-nave choir and the light, bluish-lilac color of the stained-glass windows, it is distinguished by a cross-shaped space, restrained nobility of the interior, covered by four private vaults, organic structure. The "Royal Portal" (1145-1155) of Chartres Cathedral is a striking example of Gothic sculpture. The cathedral in Chartres was also famous for its stained-glass windows, which occupied an area of ​​more than two and a half thousand square meters. In 1194, the cathedral in Chartres almost completely burned down, only the “royal portal” and the foundations of the towers were preserved. The building was later rebuilt. The construction of the cathedral was considered a righteous deed, for which believers would be forgiven their sins, and salvation would be provided in heaven.

The cathedral in Angers, belonging to the Gothic structures, has retained all the features of the western regions of France. The author of the project did not thicken the walls.
He sought to balance the distribution of gravity by increasing the vertical load. The vault of the temple is strongly convex. Its powerful ribs are one of the decorations of the building, since the flat band passing between the two rollers is covered with carvings; between them, as it were, a garland of flowers is stretched. The cathedral has preserved stained-glass windows dating from different periods.

The characteristic features of the early Gothic were embodied in the main cathedral of the capital of France - Notre Dame de Paris (Notre Dame). The majestic Notre-Dame de Paris was founded in 11b3, but its construction continued for several centuries - until the 14th century. The Cathedral is a basilica one hundred and twenty-nine meters long, consisting of five longitudinal naves and one transverse - a transept .. This is a grandiose (length 130 m, height of vaults 32.5 At) a five-nave temple, divided in the middle of the length by a short transept and completed with a choir with a double bypass (1182), so that the whole plan fits into a rectangle. With six-part vaults and identical round pillars of the main arcade crowned with large capitals, the wall placed on them is still massive; it received large upper windows necessary to illuminate the nave of the Choir of the Cathedral, as well as the facade with its clear horizontal and vertical articulations, as if with difficulty cut into a dense wall with portals, a magnificent rose and monumental towers that seem to have grown out of the body of the structure - a perfect work of a completely established style.
Three entrance-portals lead to the temple, framed by arches extending into the depths; above them are niches with statues - the so-called "royal gallery", images of biblical kings and French kings who were identified with the characters of the Old Testament. The center of the western facade is decorated with a rose window, and above the side portals, windows under lancet arches stretched upwards. On the towers of the cathedral there are sculptures of fantastic monsters - chimeras. Notre Dame de Paris combined features of the Romanesque and Gothic styles. The massive towers of the façade are characteristic of Romanesque architecture, while the cross vault supported by arches, the use of flying buttresses and buttresses, lancet arches and many windows are features characteristic of Gothic art. Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris responded to the city's increased political importance
as the capital of the state and completed the first stage in the development of the Gothic style.

The architecture of the Reims Cathedral (1211-1331), with the severity of tectonic construction, is characterized by emphasized verticalism, the elongation of all elements and figures, an abundance of sculpture and decorative details, which, like lush growth, make their way up, crossing horizontal articulations. Even the lancet frames of the portals are so elevated that another rose cuts through the central tympanum. The entire outline of the facade is lightened, noticeably tapering upwards. The main facade of the Reims Cathedral differs significantly from the classical Facade. Portals protruding forward, a deep-lying rose framed by a high lancet arch and a high second floor create new type Gothic façade: vertical lines decisively predominate. The admirable capitals are located on the same level, thus not interrupting the alternation of vertical and horizontal lines. This impression of monotony is enhanced by the similar design of the side naves.

Conclusion

In the XIII-XV centuries. Gothic architecture spread to different countries of Europe, acquiring certain features, and gradually grew out of the Romanesque style, transforming it with almost imperceptible innovations. In the 13th century, the connection between the two kingdoms of Spain and France strengthened. French architects work in Spain. Traces of their activities can be traced in the cathedrals of Leon, Burgos and Toledo. Spanish architecture of the 13th century seems to be a branch of the French. Almost always hostile, but always close relations with England could not but affect the architecture of both kingdoms. For example, the French architect Guillaume of Sens built the Cathedral in Kentbury in 1175. Being closer than any other English temples to the French plan, the cathedral of Westminster Abbey has remained a monument of close relations between the kingdoms. Its choir is surrounded by a crown of chapels, the central nave is higher than was customary in
English temples. The influence of the English Gothic on the French, which fell on the 15th century, did not affect the main structure of the buildings, but mainly their "flaming decor" The remarkable Gothic architecture of the Czech Republic of the 14th century is also associated with
named after the French architect Mathieu of Arras, who began the construction of the Cathedral of St. Witt in Prague Castle.
Information has been preserved that in 1287 Etienne de Bonneil sailed with an assistant to Sweden to build a cathedral in Uppsala. H

gothic like architectural style, is characteristic of a certain era throughout Western Europe, but the leading role in its creation, development and implementation belonged to France.

Light, seemingly soaring cathedrals, decorated with pointed turrets and lancet arches, are perhaps the most impressive legacy of the Middle Ages. We admire them with pleasure, but we don’t always think about whether the Gothic churches in different countries Western Europe, and did the appearance of these buildings change during the Gothic era?

The dawn of gothic architecture

In this article, we will not talk about the technical part. We will not delve into the layouts of Gothic churches and the structure of their interiors, we will not remember about the naves and transepts - longitudinal and transverse rooms - and only touch on the frame system. These topics require a separate discussion. But now we will talk about something no less, but for someone even more interesting: about how Gothic temple architecture appeared and flourished in Western Europe, as well as about how French cathedrals differ from English or, say, from German.

We can safely say that her customer, Abbot Suger, made a revolution in the construction of temples of that time. He decided to replace the usual heavy walls with lighter ones, which became possible due to the new load distribution system. So, the vault was built on a frame of protruding "ribs" - ribs, and on the sides they added spacers - semi-arches of flying buttresses and vertical supports - buttresses. New system allowed to make the building not only more airy, but also much lighter, thanks to the appearance of huge windows decorated with multi-colored ones.

French Gothic and its best examples

Everyone liked the new style so much that the experience of Saint Denis was soon used in the construction of Notre Dame Cathedral - the very main temple of France. And then - during the construction of the Lansky Cathedral. By the way, it was built in a record short time by the standards of Gothic temples - in just 80 years.

This style is also recognizable when looking at Chartres Cathedral, which has the largest and most beautifully preserved ensemble of stained glass windows - more than 150 windows. with total area about 2000 m2.

It is impossible not to mention the magnificent, as if carved, Bourges Cathedral, in the crypt of which to this day there is the tombstone of Jean of Berry, one of the main patrons of the Gothic era.

A little later, majestic cathedrals were erected in Reims, which today has preserved its original stained-glass windows and sculptures better than others. As well as the cathedral in Amiens, which differs in the height of the vault (42.3 m) and the most large capacity– its area is 8000 m2.

Over time, cathedrals seemed to become lighter and taller, and stained glass, enriched with a variety of new shades, more numerous and more complex.

The apotheosis of stained glass Gothic art can be observed in royal chapel Saint Chapelle, entirely consisting of radiant multi-colored glasses.

Upper Chapel of Sainte-Chapelle Basilica, Wikimedia

Everything that we have said applies to French cathedrals, examples of the Gothic style in Europe. So, to summarize: the French cathedral as a whole is tall openwork towers, light lancet arches, portals and windows. It is decorated with numerous sculptures - expressive, dynamic and invariably graceful, as well as the "stone lace" of architectural details (gables, vegetal scrolls and spikes).

Other European Gothic cathedrals of the Middle Ages

French cathedrals were imitated, copied, but in each country in its own way, in accordance with its regional characteristics, with technical and material equipment. For example, in England, not a city, but a monastery cathedral became widespread, more squat and extended, surrounded by a huge number of outbuildings, and having only one dominant - a tower. Among the most famous English Gothic temples are the cathedral in Salisbury, Durham and, of course, Canterbury Cathedral, the residence of the archbishop.

German Gothic is stricter than French, it has clearer geometric shapes and a relatively small amount of sculptural decoration.

Only Cologne Cathedral strongly resembles French temples and, like them, is an example of long construction.

Spanish Gothic (cathedrals in Seville, Burgos and Toledo) is characterized by a mixture with Moorish architecture, which, of course, is associated with the former Arab rule.

And in Italy, the Gothic never had the purity of the French "classical" style. The fact is that she never forgot Antiquity, and already at the end of the Middle Ages, the Proto-Renaissance flourished there with might and main, marking the beginning of the Renaissance. Probably the most Gothic building in Italy is built from white marble Milan Cathedral.

Wikimedia

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Gothic cathedrals is not places of worship the ancient Goths, and the temples built in the Gothic style of architecture. This architectural style appeared in France in the 12th century, it replaced the Romanesque style.

Gothic architecture spread throughout Western Europe and continued to develop until the 16th century. With the advent of the Renaissance, Gothic began to lose its significance. Best of all, the Gothic style manifested itself in the architecture of cathedrals, temples and monasteries. Gothic is characterized by narrow and tall towers, pointed arches, columns, multicolored stained glass windows and an ornate façade. An integral part of Gothic art is sculpture. The gloomy figures of gargoyles and mythical creatures served as a particularly frequent decoration on the walls. The combination of stained-glass windows shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow, magnificent patterns and stone statues figures create an inimitable ensemble.

Gothic covers various works of art: painting, fresco, stained glass, sculpture, book miniature and many others. But as already mentioned, it is the medieval cathedrals of Europe that fully demonstrate all the beauty and grandeur of the Gothic style. about them and will be discussed below.

10 gothic cathedrals photo.

1. St. Stephen's Cathedral. Vienna, Austria

St Stephen's Cathedral, located in the heart of Vienna, has survived many wars and is now a symbol of the freedom of the city. The Gothic cathedral stands on the ruins of two previous churches. Its construction was largely initiated in the 14th century by Duke Rudolf IV of Austria. And the most recognizable characteristic of the cathedral, the tiled roof with the national coat of arms and the coat of arms of the city of Vienna, was added only in 1952.

2. Burgos Cathedral. Burgos, Spain

Burgos Cathedral is a medieval cathedral in the city of the same name, dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It is famous for its huge size and unique gothic architecture. The construction of the cathedral began in 1221, and after a long break of almost two centuries, it was completed in 1567. In 1919, the cathedral became the burial place of the Spanish national hero Rodrigo Diaz de Vivara (El Cid Campeador) and his wife Jimena Diaz.

3. Reims Cathedral. Reims, France

Reims Cathedral is the place where numerous French monarchs were officially crowned. It was built on the site of the basilica, where once (about 496) Clovis I, one of the greatest politicians of his time, was baptized by Saint Remy. The construction of the cathedral was completed by the end of the 13th century.

4. Milan Cathedral. Milan, Italy

The exceptionally large and elaborate Gothic cathedral in Milan's main square is one of the most famous buildings in Europe. This is one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in the world. Construction began in 1386 under the auspices of Archbishop Antonio da Saluzzo in a late Gothic style more typical of France than Italy. It took five centuries before the building was completed.

5. Seville Cathedral. Seville, Spain

Situated on the site of the majestic Almohada Mosque, the medieval cathedral was built to showcase the power and wealth of Seville after the long process of the Reconquista. When completed in the 16th century, it superseded Hagia Sophia as the largest in the world. The builders used some of the columns and elements of the former mosque. The most famous Giralda is a tower with rich patterns and ornaments, formerly a minaret, and transformed into a bell tower.

6. York Minster York, England

One of the two largest Gothic cathedrals in Northern Europe (along with Cologne Cathedral in Germany). Rising above the skyline in the historic city of York of the same name, York Minster encompasses all stages of Gothic architectural development in England. The construction of the present building was begun around 1230 and completed in 1472. The cathedral is famous for its largest medieval stained-glass windows.

7. Notre Dame Cathedral. Paris, France

Notre Dame Cathedral (Notre Dame de Paris) is a beautiful Catholic cathedral in the fourth arrondissement of Paris. Construction, begun in 1163, was not completed until 1345. One of the most famous French Gothic cathedrals, Notre Dame de Paris is an excellent example of French gothic architecture, sculptures and stained glass windows. During the French Revolution in 1790, most of the sculptures and treasures were destroyed and looted. And yet, on December 2, 1804, Napoleon Bonaparte was crowned emperor here.

8. Cologne Cathedral. Cologne, Germany

Cologne Cathedral has been the most famous symbol of the city for many centuries. Its height is 157.4 meters. The famous cathedral stands on the site where a Roman temple was located back in the 4th century. Construction of the Gothic cathedral began in 1248 and continued intermittently for more than 600 years. The cathedral is dedicated to Saints Peter and Mary and is the main temple of the Cologne Archdiocese.

9. Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. Florence, Italy

The Gothic-style construction that began in 1296 was completed in 1436. The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is the symbol of the city and one of the most beautiful buildings in Florence. Notable are the outer walls of the basilica, lined with beautiful marble panels of various shades: green, white, pink. And the huge brick dome is also impressive.

10. Chartres Cathedral. Chartres, France

Chartres Cathedral is located in the city of the same name near Paris. Its merit, besides being one of the finest examples of French High Gothic, is that it has been almost perfectly preserved. Most of the cathedral's original stained glass windows have remained intact, while the architecture has seen only minor changes since the early 13th century.