10 Gothic Cathedrals of Medieval Europe Tweet

Gothic cathedrals are not the religious building of the ancient Goths, but rather cathedrals built in the Gothic architecture. Just as Vandalism doesn’t have anything to do with the Vandals, Gothic architecture has nothing to do with the Goths. It’s a style of architecture that developed in France out of the Romanesque style in the 12th century and was simply known as the “French Style”. Gothic architecture spread to all of Western Europe and continued to evolve until well into the 16th century, before being subsumed into Renaissance art. Only then it was called “Gothic”, and not in a positive way as the Goths were considered rude and barbaric.

The Gothic style emphasizes verticality and light. This appearance was achieved by the development of certain architectural features such as the clustered columns, ribbed vaults and flying buttresses. Although the architecture is used in many castles, palaces and town halls it is the magnificent Cathedrals of Europe that really demonstrate the beauty of Gothic architecture.

10St Stephen's Cathedral

St Stephen’s Cathedral (Stephansdom), situated at the heart of Vienna, has survived many wars and is now a symbol of the city’s freedom. The Gothic cathedral stands on the ruins of two earlier churches and was largely initiated by Rudolf IV, Duke of Austria, in the 14th century. Its most recognizable characteristic, the diamond-patterned tile roof, was only added in 1952.

9Burgos Cathedral

The Burgos Cathedral is a medieval cathedral in Burgos, dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It is famous for its vast size and unique Gothic architecture. Construction of Burgos Cathedral began in 1221, and after a lengthy hiatus of almost 2 centuries, was completed in 1567. In 1919 the cathedral became the burial place of Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar (“El Cid”), and his wife Doña Jimena.

8Reims Cathedral

Reims Cathedral was the church in which numerous French monarchs were officially crowned. It was built on the site of the basilica where Clovis was baptized by Saint Remi, bishop of Reims, in AD 496. The cathedral was completed by the end of the 13th century, with the west front added in the 14th century.

7Milan Cathedral

An exceptionally large and elaborate Gothic cathedral on the main square of Milan, the Duomo di Milano is one of the most famous buildings in Europe. It is one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in the world. Construction began in 1386 under Archbishop Antonio da Saluzzo in a Late Gothic style more typically French than Italian. It took five centuries to complete the famous cathedral.

6Seville Cathedral

Built on the site of a grand Almohad Mosque, Seville‘s medieval cathedral was built to demonstrate Seville’s power and wealth after the Reconquista. At the time of its completion in the 16th century, it supplanted the Hagia Sophia as the largest cathedral in the world. It is still the largest Gothic cathedral and the third-largest church in the world. The builders used some columns and elements from the mosque, most famously the Giralda, a minaret converted into a bell tower.

5York Minster

One of the two largest Gothic cathedrals in northern Europe (alongside Cologne Cathedral in Germany), York Minster dominates the skyline of the ancient city of York. York Minster incorporates all the major stages of Gothic architectural development in England. The present building was begun in about 1230 and completed in 1472. The “Great East Window” inside the cathedral is the largest expanse of medieval stained glass in the world.

4Notre Dame de Paris

Notre Dame de Paris is a beautiful Catholic cathedral in the fourth arrondissement of Paris. Begun in 1163 it was essentially complete by around 1345. One of the most famous French Gothic cathedrals, the Notre Dame a great example of French Gothic architecture, sculpture and stained glass. During the French Revolution in the 1790s, much of its sculptures and treasures were damaged or destroyed. Napoleon Bonaparte was crowned Emperor here on December 2, 1804.

3Cologne Cathedral

Easily the greatest Gothic cathedral in Germany, Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom) has been Cologne‘s most famous landmark for centuries. Once the tallest building in the world, it still has the largest facade anywhere. The famous cathedral stands on the site of a 4th century Roman temple, followed by a church commissioned by Maternus, the first Christian bishop of Cologne. Construction of the present Gothic church began in 1248 and took, with interruptions, more than 600 years to complete. It is dedicated to the saints Peter and Mary and is the seat of the Catholic Archbishop of Cologne.

2Santa Maria del Fiore

Begun in 1296 in the Gothic style and completed in 1436, The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore is Florence’s beautiful cathedral and symbol of the city. The exterior of the basilica is faced with polychrome marble panels in various shades of green and pink bordered by white. The basilica is one of Italy’s largest churches, and until the modern era, the dome was the largest in the world. It remains the largest brick dome ever constructed.

1Chartres Cathedral

The Chartres Cathedral is located in of Chartres, a town near Paris that seems too small to fit the Cathedral. Not only is Chartres Cathedral one of the finest examples of the French High Gothic style, it is almost perfectly preserved. The majority of the original stained glass windows survive intact, while the architecture has seen only minor changes since the early 13th century.

10 Greatest Monuments Of Ancient Egypt

 More than 5,000 years ago, the Nile River gave birth to one of the greatest civilization in the history of the world – Ancient Egypt. Ruled over 3,000 years by kings called Pharaohs, the Egyptians crafted intricate artwork, built great stone monument and developed the world’s first national government. They created the first form of the 365 day calendar and a kind of writing called hieroglyphics, leaving behind a record of their world in words as well as in stone.

The ancient Egyptians built great tombs, many of which still stand today. But the Egyptians were not obsessed with death; rather they were so in love with life that they wanted it to go on forever. And so created tombs for they believed in immortality.

 10. Temple of Hatshepsut

The Mortuary temple of Hatshepsut is basically a tomb built for Queen Hatshepsut, who reigned over Egypt from 1479 BC to 1458 BC. The temple is located beneath on the west bank of the River Nile, on the cliffs at Deir el Bahari near the Valley of the Kings.

The temple was built under the observation of Queen Hatshepsut’s chancellor, royal architect and possibly her lover Senemut. The temple also honored the glory of Amon-Ra, the Egyptian sun god. The structure of the temple is heavily colonnaded and is built into the face of a cliff that rises sharply above. The Temple of Hatshepsut consists of three layered terraces of 30 meters height. The terraces are inter-linked by long ramps and were once surrounded by gardens.

9. Bent Pyramid

Located at the royal necropolis of Dahshur, the Bent Pyramid was the second pyramid built by Pharaoh Sneferu. The pyramid has a unique and mysterious structure, as its base rises from the desert floor at an angle of 55 degrees and then shows an obvious change of a more gradual angle of 43 degrees, which gives the pyramid its bent shape.

Archaeologists hold the theory that due to the abruptness of the actual angle the weight to be added above the inner chambers and passageways became too large, forcing the builders to adopt a shallower angle. The Bent Pyramid is believed to be the transition between the steps sided and the smooth-sided pyramids.

8. Pyramid of Djoser

The Pyramid of Djoser, also known as the Step Pyramid, is located at the Saqqara necropolis northwest of Memphis. The Step Pyramids is known to be the very first pyramid built by the ancient Egyptians. The pyramid was built as a tomb, which features a vast mortuary complex in a huge courtyard, constructed for the burial of Pharaoh Djoser by his Vizier Imhotep in the 27^th century BC.

The pyramid stands 62 meters from the ground and is made of six mastabas built on top one another. Like the earlier tombs, the burial chambers of the Pyramid of Djoser are underground, hidden in a maze of tunnels.

7. Luxor Temple

The Ancient Egyptian Temple complex, the Luxor Temple is located on the east bank of the River Nile in the ancient city of Thebes, which is now known as Luxor and lies on the east bank of the River Nile. It was founded in 1400 BC during the New Kingdom. The temple, known to be the southern sanctuary, was bestowed upon the three Egyptian gods Amun, Mut, and Chons. The festival of Oput was celebrated each year at the ancient temple of Luxor. During the annual festival the statues of the three Gods were paraded to the temple along the avenue of sphinxes that connect the 2 temples.

The ancient sections of the Luxor Temple were built under Queen Hatshepsut, and corrected by Tuthmosis III. These ancient sections still stand and are the baroque chapels that lie just behind the first pylon.

6. Great Sphinx

Located at the Giza Plateau on the west bank of River Nile, The Great Sphinx is one of the largest and most ancient monuments in the world. It is the largest monolith statue, made of limestone and standing 20.22 meters high. The construction of the Great Sphinx is believed to be done during the reign of Pharaoh Khafre of the Old Kingdom.

It is still debated that which pharaoh makes the face of the Great Sphinx. In spite of contradictory data and viewpoints over the years, the view established by modern Egyptologists remains that the Great Sphinx was built in approximately 2500 BC.

5. Red Pyramid

Also known as the North Pyramid, the Red Pyramid is the largest of the three major pyramids located at the Dahshur necropolis. The pyramid got its name because of the rusty reddish hue of its stones; it is the third largest pyramid of Egypt. Built by Pharaoh Sneferu of the Old Kingdom, the Red Pyramid was first successful attempt at constructing a smooth-sided pyramid.

The Red Pyramid was the first tallest man-made structure, being 104 meters tall. The Red Pyramid was closed to tourists because of a nearby army camp. It is now normally open for tourists and a somewhat invasive ventilation system has been installed which pipes air down the entrance shaft to the interior chambers

4. Valley of the Kings

The Valley of the Kings is a valley on the west bank of the River Nile, opposite Luxor. It is the final resting place of many kings and privileged nobles of the New Kingdom. The site consists of two valleys, the East Valley where majority of the royal tombs are situated, and the West Valley.

The tombs were constructed in the Valley of the Kings from the 16th to 11th century BC, nearly 500 years. Together the two valleys contain 63 tombs and chambers, with their sizes ranging according to ranks, from a simple pit to a complex tomb of 120 chambers. The tombs of the kings and the royal family are decorated with hieroglyphics from the Egyptian mythology that suggests the beliefs and funeral rituals of the period. Except the famous tomb of Tutankhamun, all of the other tombs have been opened and robbed, but they still give an idea of the supremacy of the rulers of the time.

3. Abu Simbel

The two massive rock temples, Abu Simbel is an archaeological site located on the western bank of Lake Nasser, in southern Egypt. The twin temples are a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Originally carved out of the mountainside during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II in the 13th century BC, the Abu Simbel Temple was a lasting monument by the Pharaoh to his Queen Nefertari.

In 1960, due to fear of the temples being submerged during the construction of Lake Nasser, the complex was relocated to higher grounds, about 65 meters higher and 200 meters away from the river. The Abu Simbel Temple still remains Egypt’s top tourist attraction.

2. Karnak

The Karnak temple is a complex of many ruined buildings, temples, pylons and other decayed structures. Even though the Karnak is now in poor condition, a very few sites of the ancient Egypt can ever be more impressive than Karnak. The temple is a massive structure whose construction began at the time of the Pharaoh Ramses II. The oldest and largest ancient religious site, Karnak signifies the accomplishment of generations of Egyptian builders that worked on it. It is located near Luxor, 500 km south of Cairo.

Karnak was constructed around 1570-1100 BC and consists of three main temples, some small enclosed temples and several outer temples that located approximately 2.5 km north of Luxor. The most famed structure of the Karnak is the Hypostyle Hall with an area of 5,000 sq. meters, having134 massive columns arranged in 16 rows.

1. Pyramids of Giza

Located in the southwest suburban area of Cairo, where many Ancient Egyptian Pharaohs lay at rest, the Pyramids of Giza are situated. Built over a span of three generations of Khufu, his second son Khafre and then Menkaure, the Pyramids of Giza are the oldest and sole remnant of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

The great Pyramids of Giza were constructed to house the tombs of three powerful pharaohs, who reigned from about 2550 to 2470 BC. Without the help of modern technology, slaves piled up over 6 million limestone and granite blocks, some weighing more than 40 tons. A new block was placed within every 2 minutes and the entire project was completed in 80 years.