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Romanesque architecture

This article is part of the
History of western
architecture series.
Neolithic architecture
Ancient Egyptian architecture
Sumerian architecture
Classical architecture
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Medieval architecture
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Romanesque architecture
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Interior of the Saint-Saturnin church
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Interior of the Saint-Saturnin church
St-Sernin basilica, Toulouse, 1080 – 1120: elevation of the east end
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St-Sernin basilica, Toulouse, 1080 – 1120: elevation of the east end
Romanesque sculpture, cloister of St. Trophime, Arles
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Romanesque sculpture, cloister of St. Trophime, Arles
Romanesque abbey church of Jumièges, Normandy
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Romanesque abbey church of Jumièges, Normandy
Romanesque St. Michael's Church (1010-33) in Hildesheim – a World Heritage Site
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Romanesque St. Michael's Church (1010-33) in Hildesheim – a World Heritage Site
Romanesque portal of Schottenkirche, Regensburg
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Romanesque portal of Schottenkirche, Regensburg

The term Romanesque, like many other stylistic designations,is very symbolic and broad, and it was not a term contemporary with the art it describes but an invention of modern scholarship to categorize a period. The term "Romanesque" attempts to link the architecture, especially, of the 11th and 12th centuries in medieval Europe to Roman Architecture based on similarities of forms and materials. Romanesque is characterized by a use of round or slightly pointed arches, barrel vaults, cruciform piers supporting vaults, and groin vaults. The great carved portals of 12th century church facades (see Church of St. Trophime) parallel the architectural novelty of the period—monumental stone sculpture seems reborn in the Romanesque.

Romanesque appears to have been the first pan-European style since Roman Imperial Architecture and examples are found in every part of the continent. One important fact pointed out by the stylistic similarity of buildings across Europe is the relative mobility of medieval people. Contrary to many modern ideas of life before the Industrial Revolution, merchants, nobles, knights, artisans, and peasants crossed Europe and the Mediterranean world for business, war, and religious pilgrimages, carrying their knowledge of what buildings in different places looked like. The important pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, modern northwest Spain, may have generated as well as spread some aspects of the Romanesque style.

The Romanesque was not confined only to architecture. It was accompanied by changes in design for woodworking seen, for instance in, chests and cupboards. The exterior of the book changes at this time, and as does manuscript design as scribes start to use a new clear style of writing (Caroline minuscule). Texts are set among intricate spirals and elaborate and finely-drawn nature motifs. This became an international graphic style, influencing even Jewish illuminated manuscripts. In western painting, mosaic and fresco design, from around 1150 a spirit emerged across Europe. This attempted to revive the styles of the art of classical antiquity, and yet it also drew heavily on ancient Christian Celtic and Byzantine arts.

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Surviving Romanesque buildings

Listed below are examples of surviving Romanesque buildings in modern France, Germany, Spain, Ireland, Italy, England, Netherlands, Scandinavia, Central Europe and Portugal.

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

France

Germany

Spain

Switzerland

Ireland

Doorway, Dysert Church, Co. Clare, Ireland
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Doorway, Dysert Church, Co. Clare, Ireland

Italy

England

In England, Romanesque architecture is often termed 'Norman architecture'.

Netherlands

  • Sint Servaas, Maastricht
  • Onze-Lieve-Vrouwe, Maastricht
  • Munsterkerk, Roermond
  • Janskerk, Utrecht
  • Pieterskerk, Utrecht
  • St. Plechelmus, Oldenzaal
  • Chapel, Lemiers
  • Reformed church, Oirschot
  • Abbey church Rolduc, Kerkrade
  • St. Amelberga, Susteren
  • St. Wiro, Plechelmus and Otgerus, Sint-Odiliënberg
  • St. Remigius, Klimmen
  • St. Medardus, Wessem

Belgium

Scandinavia

Poland


Central Europe

Portugal

See also

Look up romanesque in Wiktionary, the free dictionary

Periods of Architecture:

External links