Gothic Cathedrals of Medieval Europe

Gothic Cathedrals of Medieval Europe

Gothic cathedrals are not the religious building of the ancient Goths, but rather

cathedrals built in the Gothic architecture. Just as Vandalism doesn’t have anything

nothing to do with the Goths. It’s a

to do with the Vandals, Gothic architecture has

style of architecture that developed in France out of the Romanesque style in the

12th century and was simply known as the “French Style”. Gothic architecture

spread to all of Western Europe and continued to evolve until well into the 16th

century, before being subsumed into Renaissance art. Only then it was called

“Gothic”, and not in a positive way as the Goths were considered rude and barbaric.

The Gothic style emphasizes verticality and light. This appearance was achieved by

the development of certain architectural features such as the clustered columns,

ribbed vaults and flying buttresses. Although the architecture is used in many

castles, palaces and town halls it is the magnificent Cathedrals of Europe that really

demonstrate the beauty of Gothic architecture.

10. St Stephen's Cathedral

Stephen’s Cathedral (Stephansdom), situated at the heart of

St Vienna, has

survived many wars and is now a symbol of the city’s freedom. The Gothic

cathedral stands on the ruins of two earlier churches and was largely initiated by

Rudolf IV, Duke of Austria, in the 14th century. Its most recognizable characteristic,

the diamond-patterned tile roof, was only added in 1952.

9. Burgos Cathedral The Burgos

Cathedral is a

medieval cathedral

in Burgos, dedicated

to the Virgin Mary. It

is famous for its vast

size and unique

Gothic architecture.

Construction of

Burgos Cathedral

began in 1221, and

after a lengthy

hiatus of almost 2

centuries, was

completed in 1567.

In 1919 the

became the burial place of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar (“El Cid”), and his wife

cathedral

Doña Jimena.

8. Reims Cathedral Reims Cathedral

was the church in

which numerous

French monarchs

were officially

crowned. It was built

on the site of the

basilica where

Clovis was baptized

by Saint Remi,

bishop of Reims, in

AD 496. The

cathedral was

completed by the

end of the 13th

century, with the

west front added in the 14th century.

7. Milan Cathedral An exceptionally

large and

elaborate Gothic

cathedral on the

main square

of Milan, the

Duomo di Milano

is one of the most

famous buildings

in Europe. It is

one of the largest

Gothic cathedrals

in the world.

Construction

began in 1386

under Archbishop

Antonio da

Saluzzo in a Late

Gothic style more typically French than Italian. It took five centuries to complete the

famous cathedral.

6. Seville Cathedral Built on the site

of a grand

Almohad

Mosque, Seville’s

medieval

cathedral was

built to

demonstrate the

city’s power and

wealth after the

Reconquista. At

the time of its

completion in the

16th century, it

supplanted the

Hagia Sophia as

the largest

cathedral in the world. It is still the largest Gothic cathedral and the third-largest

church in the world. The builders used some columns and elements from the

mosque, most famously the Giralda, a minaret converted into a bell tower.

5. York Minster One of the two

largest Gothic

cathedrals in

northern Europe

(alongside

Cologne

Cathedral in

Germany), York

Minster

dominates the

skyline of the

ancient city of

York. York

Minster

incorporates all

the major stages

of Gothic

architectural

development in England. The present building was begun in about 1230 and

completed in 1472. The “Great East Window” inside the cathedral is the largest

expanse of medieval stained glass in the world.

4. Notre Dame de Paris Notre Dame de Paris is

a beautiful Catholic

cathedral in the fourth

arrondissement of Paris.

Begun in 1163 it was

essentially complete by

around 1345. One of the

most famous French

Gothic cathedrals, the

Notre Dame a great

example of French

Gothic architecture,

sculpture and stained

glass. During the French

Revolution in the 1790s,

much of its sculptures

and treasures were damaged or destroyed. Napoleon Bonaparte was crowned

Emperor here on December 2, 1804.