Notre Dame´s Cathedral -Sergio Arias-

Characteristics of Gothic Style Architecture: 

Flying Buttresses

Pinnacles

Pointed Arches

Ribbed Vaulting

Great Windows of stained glass

Twin Towers

Notre Dame de Paris means Our Lady Of Paris and is located on the eastern half of the region the Île de La Cité. And it is an active catholic church, it is the catholic Archdiocese of Paris.

Buttresses and Pinnacles

Notre Dame Cathredral is a very good example of what Gothic Architecture was since it has a lot of characterisitcs that still remain in the cathedral.

You can appreciate many of the characteristics of the architecture outside the church.

An important fact about this building is that it was the first piece of architecture to have flying buttresses and pinnacles.

- Buttresses: “Inclined bar carried on a half arch that extends (“flies”) from the upper part of a wall to a pier some distance away and carries the thrust of a roof or vault.” (Britannica).

- Pinnalces: “A pinnacle (vertical ornament of pyramidal or conical shape) often crowns the pier, adding weight and enhancing stability. The flying buttress evolved in the Gothic era from earlier simpler, hidden supports.” (Britannica).

In my opinion this a very impressive thing because instead of pillars they used a different way to support the building and you can find them outside at the sides of the church.

Ribbed Vaulting

Another interesting thing is the way the roof is constructed. Ribbed vaulting is the style. It is like arches along the roof that intersect themselves as if they were ribs conforming a perfect estabilization all the way. 

Pointed Arches

The most remarkable thing in this structure inside and outside the church are the pointed arches that make up the essential look of the gothic style.

Also, at the entrance of the church you can find twin towers that are very repesentative in this style.

South Rose Window

Location

It is very likely to find huge stained glass windows around the church. 

Another important detail to admire at the cathedral is the transept.

- Transept: “The area of a cruciform church lying at right angles to the principal axis. The bay at which the transept intersects the main body of the church is called the crossing.”(Britannica).

Overall I think that visiting this piece of architecture is a fanscinating experience because you have a lot of concepts of art resumed in one place. 

Bibliography

*Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris. "The Rose Window". Diocèse de Paris. Web.15 September, 2010.

* Rib vault." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2010. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 16 Sep. 2010 <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/502037/rib-vault>.

* "flying buttress." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2010. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 17 Sep. 2010 <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/211645/flying-buttress>.

* "Transept." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2010. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 17 Sep. 2010 <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/602515/transept>.

* “Pinnacle." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2010. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 17 Sep. 2010 <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/461126/pinnacle>.

Images

*Cathedral: medieval cruciform style. Art. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Web. 17 Sep. 2010

<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic-art/602515/8097/Medieval-cathedral-arranged-on-a-cruciform-plan>.

 *South Window. Gérard Boullay Photographies. Notre Dame´s Cathedral. Web. 17/09/10.< http://www.notredamedeparis.fr/South-Rose-Window >.

*Milan, Cathedral of. Photograph. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Web. 17 Sep. 2010

<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic-art/211645/31815/Flying-buttresses-and-parapet-on-the-Cathedral-of-Milan-begun>.

* Vault: basic structure. Art. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Web. 17 Sep. 2010

<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic-art/624158/56401/Vault>.