Religious Architecture of the Middle Ages I: Romanesque

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Abbey church of Cluny III, France, (1088-1130 AD)

The third church to built at the Benedictine abbey of Cluny was the largest church in Christendom, and was designed by the monk Gunzo. Most of the church was destroyed following the French Revolution.

  Surviving fragment Reconstruction of original appearance of Cluny III

Sainte Foy, Conques, France (c. 1050 -1130 AD)

  Ste Foy, a pilgrimage church on one of the routes to Santiago de Compostela

   Main Facade Tympanum sculpture depicting the Last Judgement, an appropriate theme for pilgrims seeking penance

  View of transept with clustered apses of chapels

View of crossing Ambulatory with apsed chapels Gold and jewel encrusted reliquary of Ste Foy (mid tenth century)

Durham Cathedral, Durham, England (begun 1093)

  Note the ribbed vaults, their appearance being a precursor of Gothic

  Romanesque vault construction: note how a single bay of the nave is flanked by two bays in each aisle resulting in a rhythmical alternation of major and minor piers along the nave

San Miniato al Monte, Florence, Italy (11th to 12th century AD)

Facade Plan and Section

View along nave towards raised sanctuary Roofing of aisles