Gothic architecture was born in France. The plan of the Gothic cathedral is inspired by the model of the ancient Roman basilica. The cathedral is in the shape of a Latin cross. The entrance is traditionally to the west, featuring three portals adorned with sculptures. It is flanked by two towers. The cathedral generally has a transept. The crossing, or the intersection of the transept, constitutes the center of the church. The north and south facades of the transept are often decorated with rose windows.
Its originality lies in the use of the ribbed vault and the flying buttress, which counterbalance the weight of the vaults with buttresses on the outside of the building. The ribbed vault takes advantage of the shape of the pointed arch. The vault is supported by thin stone ribs. Another characteristic of Gothic art is the use of stained glass and rose windows. These techniques already existed in Romanesque architecture, but they were jointly used by Gothic architecture to make buildings taller, lighter, and stronger.
One of the first Gothic works is the Abbey of Saint-Denis, near Paris, whose choir and facade were rebuilt with Gothic elements. The plan that served as the model for Gothic architecture is the Abbey of Saint-Denis. This arrangement became the model for French cathedrals. Sens Cathedral was the first cathedral to be built in this new Gothic style.
The Gothic style was also adapted by certain monastic orders, notably the Cistercian order under Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. Early examples of Norman Gothic include Coutances Cathedral, Bayeux Cathedral, Le Mans Cathedral, and Rouen Cathedral.
From the late 12th century to the mid-13th century, the Gothic style spread. Notable examples include Chartres Cathedral, Bourges Cathedral, Reims Cathedral, and Amiens Cathedral. Amiens and Chartres were among the first to use the flying buttress. The buttresses were reinforced, allowing for increased heights. Gothic techniques allowed for the enlargement of transepts and choirs, thus creating space for chapels. East of the transept is the choir. This space significantly developed in the 12th century as ceremonies became increasingly elaborate. Later, the galleries and triforium disappeared.
Beauvais Cathedral pushed Gothic architecture to its limits. Part of the choir collapsed in 1284. Only the transept and choir of Beauvais were completed. No cathedral built since has exceeded the height of Beauvais.
Based on the model of the Basilica of Saint-Denis and Notre-Dame de Paris, the first Gothic cathedrals traditionally have their entrance at the west end of the church. There are generally three richly decorated pointed doors. Some Gothic cathedrals had a labyrinth. Most of these labyrinths were later destroyed. From the 12th century, the Gothic style spread to other regions of France, then gradually to the rest of Europe. It was often carried by highly skilled craftsmen who had trained in Île-de-France and then in other cities. Subsequently, the Rayonnant Gothic style and then the Flamboyant Gothic style emerged.
Gothic art is above all the Gothic cathedral, the architecture of geometry, and the craft of the companions. The notebook of Villard de Honnecourt illustrates with drawings the Gothic geometry of the Middle Ages. Freemasons, companions, monks, and architects like Villard de Honnecourt are the builders of the cathedrals. The Gothic cathedral of Amiens, the geometry of Chartres, the medieval cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris, not to mention Bourges Cathedral or the Gothic cathedrals of Reims and Beauvais or the Basilica of Saint-Quentin are detailed in the book "Les Cathédrales Retracées". Who created Gothic art? Is the golden ratio the geometric regulatory scheme, the geometric guiding layout of cathedrals?