Gothic architecture

Gothic architecture is an architectural style that was prevalent in Europe from the late 12th to the 16th century, during the High and Late Middle Ages, surviving into the 17th and 18th centuries in some areas. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture. The style is characterised by pointed arches, rib vaults, flying buttresses and large, traceried stained glass windows. It originated in the Île-de-France and Picardy regions of northern France. The Abbey of Saint-Denis, near Paris, is considered to be the first Gothic building. Its choir was reconstructed between 1140 and 1144, drawing together the developing Gothic architectural features. The style at the time was sometimes known as opus Francigenum (lit. 'French work'); the term Gothic was first applied contemptuously during the later Renaissance, by those ambitious to revive the architecture of classical antiquity. With the development of Renaissance architecture in Italy during the mid-15th century, the Gothic style was supplanted by the new style, but in some regions, notably England and what is now Belgium, Gothic continued to flourish and develop into the 16th century. A series of Gothic revivals began in mid-18th century England, spread through 19th century Europe and continued, largely for churches and university buildings, into the 20th century. The Gothic style is particularly associated with church architecture, but it is also the architecture of many castles, palaces, town halls, guildhalls, universities and houses. Many of the finest examples of Gothic architecture are listed by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites.