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Romanesque architecture

     
     
St-Sernin basilica, Toulouse, 1080 – 1120: elevation of the east end

St-Sernin basilica, Toulouse, 1080 – 1120: elevation of the east end

Romanesque St. Michael's Church (1010-33) in Hildesheim – a World Heritage Site

Romanesque St. Michael's Church (1010-33) in Hildesheim – a World Heritage Site
Romanesque Collegiate church in Tum, Poland
Romanesque Collegiate church in Tum, Poland
Romanesque portal of Schottenkirche, Regensburg
Romanesque portal of Schottenkirche, Regensburg
Collegiate church of Santillana del Mar, Spain. Cloister
Collegiate church of Santillana del Mar, Spain. Cloister
Monastery of Santo Domingo de Silos, Spain. Capitel detail
Monastery of Santo Domingo de Silos, Spain. Capitol detail
Inner view of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Inner view of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Façade of the Old Cathedral of Coimbra (Portugal, 2nd half of 12th century).
Façade of the Old Cathedral of Coimbra (Portugal, 2nd half of 12th century).
The term Romanesque, like many other stylistic designations, 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 (Way of Saint James), in Galicia, modern northwest Spain, generated as well and spread some aspects of the Romanesque style. A particular scheme of Pilgrimage Church appeared and developed throughout the main routes in Tours, Limoges, Conques, Toulouse and Santiago de Compostela.

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.

The main characteristics of the style
A combination of masonry, arch and piers is the basis of the Romanesque style. The main concept for buildings was the addition of pure geometrical forms. The new concept of stone vaulting required stronger walls for support. Because of the lack of knowledge of the building statics it was necessary to build strong, thick walls with narrow openings.

The Pier (an upright support generally square, or rectangular in plan) is a better solution for masonry walls, than the column. Columns are subsequently replaced by piers, or transformed to better support the masonry arches. Geometrisation and rigidity in Romanesque architecture is evident in the transformation of column capitals from corinthian to cubic capitals, as found in the church of St.Michael, Hildesheim. There is also one new element in the capitals developed during Romanesque period - the impost. It's a trapezoid form which stands between capital and arch.

Two types of alternation of supporting elements appeared during the Romanesque: 1. Simple alternation - 1 column (circular) is followed by 1 pier (rectangular) 2. Double alternation - 2 piers stand between every column

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

France
Romanesque architecture expands in France through monasteries. Burgundy was the center of monastic life in France - one of the most important Benedictine monastery of medieval Europe was the one in Cluny. The pilgrimage also contributed to expansion of this style. Many pilgrims passed through France on their way to Santiago de Compostela.

French Romanesque schools of architecture, which are specific for every region, are characterised by the variety of stone vaulting.

Regions that developed distinctive styles are: 
Burgundy 
abbey church, Cluny 
Saint-Bénigne, Dijon 
Autun 
St.Philibert, Tournus 
Provence 
Church of St. Trophime and cloister, Arles 
Tour Fenestrelle, Uzès 
Aquitaine 
Saint-Front, Périgueux 
Notre-Dame-la-Grande, Poitiers 
Saint-Pierre, Angoulême 
Sainte-Croix, Bordeaux 

Auvergne 
Saint-Foy, Conques 
Saint-Sernin, Toulouse 
Notre-Dame-du-Port, Clermont-Ferrand 
Saint-Austremoine, Issoire 
Notre-Dame, Orcival 

Normandy 
Saint-Étienne, Caen, 
abbey church, Jumièges, Seine-Maritime 
abbey church of Saint-Georges-de-Boscherville, Seine-Maritime 
Sainte-Trinité, Caen, Calvados Calvados 
Cerisy-la-Forêt, Manche 
Lessay, Manche 

Gordes, Abbey of Sénanque 
Saint-Nectaire 
Saint-Saturnin 
Sainte-Madeleine, Vezelay 
Paray-le-Monial 
Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe 
Chapaize 
Abbatiale de Cruas 
Abbey of Vigeois, Limousin 
Fontevraud Abbey 
Saint-Martin-du-Canigou, Roussillon 

Spain
Romanesque first depeloped in Spain in the 10th and 11th centuries and before Cluny`s influence, in Lérida, Barcelona, Tarragona and Huesca and in the Pirinees, simultaneously with the north of Italy, in what is been called "First Romanesque" or "Lombard Romanesque". It is a very primitive style, whose characteristics are thick walls, lack of sculpture and the presence of rythmic ornamental arches.

The plein Romanesque Architecture arrives with the influence of Cluny through the Way of Saint James, that ends in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. The model of the Spanish Romanesque in 12th century was the Cathedral of Jaca, with its characteristic absis structure and plan, and its "chess" decoration in strips, called taqueado jaqués. As the Christian Kingdoms advanced to the South, that model spread troughout the reconquered areas with some variations. Spanish Romanesque has also influence of the Spanish pre-romanesque styles, mainly the Asturian and the Mozarab. But there is also a strong influence of the moorish architecture, so close in space, specially the vaults of Córdoba`s Mosque, and the polylobulated arches. In the 13th century, some romanesque churches alternated with the gothic. Aragón, Castile and Navarra are some of the most dense areas of Spanish Romanesque.

Basílica de San Isidoro, with "Kings' Pantheon" León 
Zamora[1] Cathedral 
Zamora[2] City of romanesque art. 
Salamanca Old Cathedral 
Santo Domingo de Silos Monastery 
Toro[3] Santa María la Mayor, Collegiate Church 
Ávila, Chuch of San Vicente 
Soria Santo Domingo 
Carrión de los Condes Church of Santiago 
Carrión de los Condes Church of Santa María de las Victorias 
San Juan de Ortega Church 
Aguilar de Campoo Church of Santa Cecilia 
Aguilar de Campoo Santa María la Real, Monastery 
Arenillas de San Pelayo Church of San Pelayo 
Barrio de Santa María Church of Santa Eulalia 
Cillamayor Church of Santa María la Real 
San Martín, Frómista 
Olmos de Ojeda Church of Santa Eufemia 
San Salvador de Cantamuda Collegiate Church 
Soria San Juan de Duero, Cloister 
Arbás Church 
A lot of rural romanesque churches of northern Burgos and Palencia 
The 20 romanesque churches of Segovia 
Duratón La Asunción de María, church 
Fuentidueña Church of San Miguel 
Grado del Pico Church of San Pedro 
Perorrubio Church of San Pedro 
Requijada Church of Virgen de las Vegas 
San Pedro de Gaillos Church 
Sepúlveda Church of San Salvador 
Estella San Pedro de la Rúa. Church and cloister. 
Estella Church of San Miguel 
Estella Palace of the Kings of Navarra 
Torres del Río Church of Santo Sepulcro 
Leyre San Salvador. Abbey 
Sangüesa Church of Santa María la Real 
Santillana del Mar Collegiate Church and cloister 
Jaca Cathedral 
Loarre Castle 
San Juan de la Peña 
Rural early romanesque churches of Serrablo Huesca 
Sant Climent de Taüll, Vall de Boí 
Sant Miquel de Cuixà, Empordà 
Tarragona Cathedral Cloister 
Ripoll Monastery 
Lugo Cathedral 
Santiago de Compostela Cathedral 
Santiago de Compostela Gelmirez Palace 
Santiago de Compostela Santa María del Sar (Colegiata) 
La Coruña Church of Santiago 
La Coruña Collegiate Church of Santa María del Campo 
Noia Church of San Martiño 
Cathedral, Ourense, Romanesque and Gothic 
Portomarín, Church of San Juan 
Vilar de Donas,Monastery 
Sarria,Church 
Barbadelo,Church 

Poland
Abbey church in Czerwińsk nad Wisłą 
Collegiate church in Tum 
Masovian Blessed Virgin Mary Cathedral in Płock, 
St. Andrew's Church in Kraków 
Cistercians Abbey in Sulejów 
Cistercians Abbey in Kołbacz 
Saint Godehard-Rotunda in Strzelin 
St. Adalbert-Church in Kraków 
St. Giles-Church in Wrocław 
St. Mary-Rotunda in Cieszyn 
St. Prokop-Rotunda in Strzelno 
St. Trinity-Church in Strzelno 
St. Mary-Church in Inowrocław 
St. Nicolaus-Church in Giecz 
St. Giles-Church in Inowłódz 
St. Giles-Church in Tarczek 
St. Martin-Collegiate in Opatów 
Dungeon in Lublin Castle 
St. John the Baptist-Church in Grzegorzowice 
St. Peter and Paul-Collegiate in Kruszwica 
Blessed Virgin Mary-Church in Lwówek Śląski 
St. Jacob-Church in Sandomierz 
St. Ursula-Church in Strońsko 
Cistercians Abbey in Wąchock 
St. Nicolaus- Church in Żarnów 
St. Leonard Crypt in Wawel, Kraków 
Castle in Będzin 
Church of St. John from Jerusalem Outside the Walls in Poznań 
St. Florian-Church in Koprzywnica 
Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Lubsko 
Romanesque doors in Gniezno Cathedral 
Church and campanile in Krzyworzeka 
Church in Biedrzychowice 
South part and ruins of the chapel in Piast Castle in Legnica 

Croatia
[4] St. Anastasia, Zadar St. Benedict, Split St. Peter, Rab St. Mary the Blessed, Rab


Ireland

Doorway, Dysert Church, Co. Clare, Ireland

Doorway, Dysert Church, Co. Clare, Ireland
Cormac's Chapel, Cashel (1127-1134) 
Aghadoe, County Kerry (1158) 
Nuns' Church, Clonmacnoise (1167) 
Tuam Cathedral and Crosses (c. 1184) 
Ardmore Church and Round Tower, County Waterford 
Baltinglass Cistercian Abbey, County Wicklow 
Boyle Cistercian Abbey, County Roscommon 
Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin 
Clonfert Cathedral, County Galway 
Cong Abbey, County Galway 
Devenish Round Tower and Churches, County Fermanagh 
Dysert O'Dea Church and Round Tower, County Clare 
Freshford, County Kilkenny 
Jerpoint Cistercian Abbey, County Kilkenny 
Killeshin, County Laois 
Maghera, County Derry 
Monaincha Abbey and Cross, County Tipperary 
Rahan Church of Ireland Church, County Offaly 
Timahoe Round Tower, County Laois 
St. Saviour's, Glendalough 
Column of virtues in Strzelno, Poland
Column of virtues in Strzelno, Poland

Germany
Bamberg, Bamberg Cathedral 
Mainz, St. Martin - Mainz Cathedral 
Worms, Worms Cathedral 
Speyer, Speyer Cathedral 
Maria Laach Abbey 
Trier Cathedral 
Hildesheim: Cathedral and St. Michael's Church. 
Regensburg, Schottenkirche St. Jakob 
Würzburg, Cathedral 
Freising, Cathedral 
Goslar, Emperor's Palace 

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 

Italy
Sant'Ambrogio, Milan 
San Mercuriale, in Forlì 
San Michele, Pavia 
San Miniato al Monte, Florence 
Basilica of San Nicola, Bari 
San Zeno, Verona 
Cathedral of Bitonto 
Cathedral of Spoleto 
Cathedral of Cefalù 
Cathedral of Monza 
Cathedral of Pisa 
Pieve di Romena, Pratovecchio, Arezzo 

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

Durham Cathedral 
Crypt of Canterbury Cathedral 
Hereford Cathedral 
Kilpeck Church 
Leominster Priory 
Ludlow Castle 
Southwell Minster 
St Albans Cathedral 

Switzerland
Abbey of Romainmôtier 
Church of Saint-Sulpice, Vaud 
Payerne 

Belgium
Notre-Dame Cathedral in Tournai (Doornik) 
abbey in Nivelles (Nijvel) 
abbey 

Scandinavia
Lund Cathedral, Lund 
Nidaros Cathedral, Trondheim 

Central Europe
S. George, Prague (Czech Republic) 
rotunda of St. George in The Říp Mountain (Czech Republic) 
Abbey church, Jak (Hungary) 
Belapatfalva church (Hungary) 

Portugal
Old Cathedral of Coimbra (Sé Velha de Coimbra, begun 1162) 
Lisbon Cathedral (Sé de Lisboa, begun 1147) 
Round church in the Convent of the Order of Christ in Tomar (XII century) 
Domus Municipalis, Bragança [5] 


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