Facts about French Gothic Architecture
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Rose windows, large circular stained-glass compositions, became a distinctive decorative and structural element of French Gothic cathedrals during the 12th and 13th centuries.
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Chartres Cathedral, a masterpiece of French Gothic architecture, houses one of the most complete collections of medieval stained glass in the world.
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Ribbed vaulting is a hallmark of French Gothic architecture, distributing ceiling weight along stone ribs rather than across entire vault surfaces.
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Notre-Dame de Paris, a landmark of French Gothic architecture, began construction in 1163 and took nearly two centuries to complete.
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Flying buttresses, an innovation closely associated with French Gothic architecture, transfer the weight of heavy stone vaults outward to external piers.
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The pointed arch is a defining structural feature of French Gothic architecture, allowing builders to construct taller, thinner walls with large stained-glass windows.