1. GOTHIC CATHEDRALS

2. Center of the Medieval World The Gothic Cathedral was generally the landmark building in its town, rising high above all other structures in the area.

3. Gothic Cathedrals Characteristics of Gothic architecture: Pointed Arch Ribbed Vault Flying Buttress Stained Glass

4. Notre Dame de Reims

5. Gothic Cathedrals Characteristics of Gothic architecture: Pointed Arch Ribbed Vault Flying Buttress Stained Glass

6. Pointed Arch One of the defining characteristics of Gothic architecture is the pointed arch.

7. Notre Dame de Reims

8. Ribbed Vault The intersection of two or three barrel vaults (a vault that is shaped like half of a barrel) produces a ribbed vault. Can you see the intersection in this photo?

9. Royaumont Abbey, France.

10. Flying Buttress Flying buttresses are used as structural support in Gothic Architecture. The buttresses are used to hold up the walls.

11. Sainte Chapelle de Riom, France

12. Stained Glass Because the building was supported by: Pointed Arches Ribbed Vaults and Flying Buttresses The walls didn’t have to be solid and thick. This allowed for the use of stained glass. Sainte Chapelle de Paris, France

13. Notre Dame de Paris

14. Church of Saint-Denis This church in Paris is often cited as the first building in the Gothic Style.

15. St. Denis Imagine how it must have felt to walk into this church upon its completion in 1144 when most buildings were still quite dark and small.

16. Chartres Cathedral Dedicated in 1260, this Cathedral in Chartres (pronounced sharte) just outside of Paris is considered one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in the world.

17. Chartres Chartres retains nearly all of the original stained glass in its famous rose window.