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 Collegiate church in Tum, Poland
Romanesque portal of Schottenkirche, Regensburg
Collegiate church of Santillana del Mar, Spain. Cloister
Monastery of Santo Domingo de Silos, Spain. Capitol detail
Inner view of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
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
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
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]
External links
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