Gothic Architecture Project

The Seven Characteristics of Gothic Architecture

All over Europe there are Gothic cathedrals built during the Middle Ages.  I have seen cathedrals in Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and the Czech Republic.  The ones that I have seen had lots of stained glass windows.  There were colorful pictures of Jesus, Joseph, Mary, and saints.  There were also scenes from the Bible.

St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague

There are seven characteristics of Gothic cathedrals.  First, the cathedrals were built tall.  They were made tall to look like they are reaching to Heaven.  Many churches were competing to see who could make the tallest cathedral.  Before the Gothic cathedrals, stone buildings were made low and wide because they hadn't figured out how to make tall cathedrals without having them fall.

St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague

Second, to make these cathedrals so tall they had to make things called flying buttresses.  The flying buttress comes from the outside of the cathedral and keeps the arches from falling.  The top part of the church arch would fall down with all of the weight on it.  The top part of the arch would push down and the sides of the arch would push it out so the whole arch would fall.  The flying buttresses push into the sides so the top part of the arches can’t push them out.  If the flying buttress is placed in the wrong spot, then the arch can fall above or below the flying buttress.

St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague

Third, there is the pointed arch. The pointed arch is made so that middle of the arch does not fall down.  In the middle of the pointed arch is the key stone.  The key stone is placed in the point of the arch. It pushes down to keep the arch in place.  It also pushes out the stones on the side, which is why we have the flying buttress to keep the stones in place.

St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague

Fourth, there is the vaulted ceiling.  It looks like many arches coming together at the very center of the ceiling.  At the top is a stone that is called the boss stone. Like a key stone, it keeps the arches together.  Together all of the vaulted ceilings look like a spider web.  The vaulted ceiling helps make the churches tall.  The vaulted ceilings also helps music and the priest’s voice echo.

St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague

Fifth, the inside of the Gothic cathedrals look nicer because they are light and airy.  The arches and the vaulted ceiling allow builders to use stained glass windows more. Light shines through the stained glass windows to make the room bright and airy.  Before arches and vaulted ceilings, the walls were made out of stone and the windows were just slits in the wall.

St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague

Sixth, Gothic cathedrals usually have gargoyles on the outside of the building.  Gargoyles are good for decoration but can also be used for gutters.  The churches also use gargoyles so people get scared about going to hell and being with the scary gargoyles. That way the people go to church and pray.

St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague

Seventh, builders made the churches fancy and ornate.  To make the churches ornate, they put in lots of colorful stained glass windows, rose windows, and statues.  During the Reformation churches became simpler with fewer decorations. 

St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague

If you ever go to a cathedral, you can try and find these things.  Knowing these things, you might enjoy the cathedral more.  I hope you get to go to a cathedral if you haven’t already and enjoy it as much as I have.

For more information on the seven characteristics of Gothic Cathedrals, see this website.
Photos by Nicholas and Mark.