French Gothic architecture
French Gothic architecture is the style of architecture that was prevalent in France from 1140 until about 1500.
Sequence of Gothic styles: France
The designations of styles in French Gothic architecture are as follows:
- Early Gothic
- High Gothic
- Rayonnant
- Late Gothic or Flamboyant style
These divisions are effective, but still sets grounds for many debatable issues. Because Gothic cathedrals were built over several successive periods, each period not necessarily following the wishes of previous periods, the dominant architectural style changes throughout a particular building. Consequently, it is often difficult to declare one building as a member of a certain era of Gothic architecture. It is more useful to use the terms as descriptors for specific elements within a structure, rather than applying it to the building as a whole.
Early Gothic:
- The East end of the Abbey Church of St Denis
- Sens Cathedral
- Notre-Dame of Laon
- The West facade of Chartres Cathedral
High Gothic:
- Amiens Cathedral
- The main body of Chartres Cathedral
- Notre Dame de Paris
- Bourges Cathedral
Rayonnant:
- The nave of the Abbey Church of St Denis
- Reims Cathedral
Late Gothic:
- The north tower of Chartres Cathedral
- The rose window of Amiens Cathedral
- The west facade of the Rouen Cathedral
- Church of St. Maclou, Rouen.
- The south transept of the Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Beauvais
Aside of these Gothic style there is another style called "Gothique Méridional" (or Southern Gothic, opposed to Gothique Septentrional or Northern Gothic). This style is characterised by a large nave and has no transcept. Examples of this Gothic architecture would be:
- Notre-Dame-de-Lamouguier in Narbonne
- Sainte-Marie in Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges