Buildings related to the Romanesque style in art. Romanesque style: the main features and the most famous buildings

Sterling Castle, unknown builders, XI-XII centuries, Scotland

Emergence

This name appeared only around 1820, but it quite accurately determines that until the middle of the XIII century. elements of Roman-antique architecture were strongly felt.

The Romanesque period in Europe falls on the time of the dominance of the feudal system, the basis of which was agriculture. Initially, all the land belonged to the king, he distributed them among his vassals, and they, in turn, distributed it to the peasants for processing. For the use of land, everyone was obliged to pay taxes and carry out military service. The peasants tied to the land kept the masters, who in turn served in the king's troops. Thus, a complex interdependent relationship arose between masters and peasants, with peasants at the bottom rung of the social ladder.

Since each feudal lord sought to expand his possessions, conflicts and wars were fought almost constantly. As a result, the central royal power lost its position, which led to the fragmentation of states. Expansionary aspirations were especially clearly expressed in the crusades and in the enslavement of the Slavic East.

Construction features

Historical characteristics

Various building materials are used in Romanesque architecture. In the early period, not only dwelling houses, but monasteries and churches were built of wood, but stone became the main building material in the Middle Ages. At first, it was used only in the construction of temples and fortresses, and later for buildings of a secular nature. Easily workable limestone, the deposits of which were located in areas along the Loire, made it possible, due to its relative lightness, to bridge small spans with arches without the installation of bulky scaffolds. It was also used for the ornamental masonry of the outer walls.

In Italy there was a lot of marble, which was especially often used for wall cladding. Multicolored marble in light and dark tones, used in various spectacular combinations, is becoming a characteristic feature of Italian Romanesque architecture.

The stone was either hewn in the form of blocks, from which the so-called plank masonry was made, or rubble, suitable for laying walls, when it was required to strengthen structures, externally lined with slabs and blocks of hewn stone. In contrast to antiquity, in the Middle Ages, smaller stones were used, which were easier to get in the quarry and deliver to the construction site.

Where stone was lacking, brick was used, which was somewhat thicker and shorter than used today. The brick of that time was usually very hard, badly burnt. Brick buildings from the Romanesque period have survived primarily in Italy, France, Germany and England.

Specific traits

An important task of the Romanesque building art was the transformation of the basilica with a flat wooden floor into a vaulted one. At first, the vault covered the small spans of the side naves and apses, later the main naves were also covered with the vault. The thickness of the vault was sometimes quite significant, so the walls and pylons were designed thick with a large margin of safety. Due to the need for large overlapped spaces and the development of technical construction ideas, the construction of the initially heavy vaults and walls began to be gradually lightened.

The vault makes it possible to cover larger spaces than wooden beams. The simplest in form and design is a cylindrical vault, which, without pushing the walls apart, presses on them from above with an enormous weight, and therefore requires especially massive walls. This vault is most suitable for covering rooms with a small span, but it was often used in the main nave - in France in the regions of Provence and Auvergne (Cathedral of Notre - Dame du Port in Clermont). Later, the semicircular shape of the arch was replaced by a lancet one. Thus, the nave of the cathedral in Hauteune (early 12th century) is covered with a pointed vault with the so-called edge arches.

St. Mary's Church, 1093-1200, Laach, Germany

The basis for the new types of vaults was the old Roman straight cross vault over a square room, obtained by the intersection of two half-cylinders. The loads arising from this vault are distributed along the diagonal ribs, and from them are transmitted to four supports at the corners of the overlapped space. Initially, the ribs appearing at the intersection of the half-cylinders played the role of arches - it was twisted, which made it possible to lighten the entire structure (St. Stephen's Cathedral in Cana, 1064 - 1077; the monastery church in Lorsch - the first basilica completely covered with vaults)

If you increase the height of the vault so that the diagonal intersection curve from elliptical to semicircular, you can get the so-called raised cross vault.

The vaults most often had full-bodied masonry, which, as we said, required the construction of massive pylons. Therefore, the Romanesque composite pylon became a big step forward: half-columns were added to the main pylon, on which the edge arches rested, and as a result, the spacing of the arch was reduced. A significant constructive achievement was the distribution of the load from the vault to several specific points due to the rigid connection of the transverse edge arches, ribs and pylons. The rib and edge arch become the skeleton of the vault, and the pylon becomes the skeleton of the wall.

At a later time, end (cheek) arches and ribs were first laid out. This design is called the ribbed cross vault. During the heyday of the Romanesque style, this vault was made elevated, and its diagonal arch acquired a pointed shape (the Church of the Holy Trinity in Cana, 1062-1066).

To cover the side naves, instead of a cross vault, sometimes semi-cylindrical vaults were used, which are very often used in civil engineering. Romanesque structures are, first of all, an elevated ribbed vault, a pointed arch, and the suppression of oblique lateral gaps from the vaults by a system of supports. They form the basis for the subsequent Gothic style in architecture.

Types of structures

A significant role in the emergence, and especially in the spread of Romanesque art, was played by monastic orders, which arose in large numbers at that time, especially the Benedictine order, founded in the 6th century. at Monte Cassino, and the Cistercian order, which arose 100 years later. For these orders, building artels erected one structure after another throughout Europe, gaining more and more experience.

Monasteries, together with Romanesque churches, monastic or cathedral, parish or serf churches, were an important part of social life during the Romanesque period. They were a powerful political and economic organization that influenced the development of all areas of culture. An example is the Cluny Monastery. At the end of the XI century. in Cluny was modeled on the Basilica of St. Peter's in Rome, a new monastery church was built, which was a huge five-aisled basilica 130 m long. Its central nave was boldly covered with a 28-meter-high vault, which, however, collapsed after the completion of construction.

The planning solution of the monasteries was based on universal schemes, but adapted to local conditions and the specific requirements of different monastic orders, which undoubtedly led to an enrichment of the palette of builders.

In Romanesque architecture, there were two main compositional types of church structures. These are longitudinal buildings, sometimes very simple, rectangular in shape with an apse attached to the east, or basilicas; more rare are centric, round buildings with regularly placed apses.

The development of Romanesque architecture is characterized by changes in the organization of internal space and volume in general, especially in the most significant buildings of that time - basilicas. Along with the basilical organization of the space, a new Romanesque type of space with the same naves or hall space is also used, which is especially popular in Germany, Spain and the French regions between the Loire and Garonne rivers.

In the most mature buildings of that period, the interior space is complicated by the apses of the transverse naves, and the choir has a gallery with a system of radial chapels, for example in France and southern England (Norwich Cathedral, 1096 - 1150).

The inner space of the temples is formed by combining separate, in most cases square in terms of spatial blocks. Such a system is an important sign of a new understanding of the organization of internal space.

The degree of influence of the basilica spaces on the visitor largely depended on the nature of the solution of the walls and the method of overlap. They used either a flat ceiling, usually beamed, or cylindrical vaults, sometimes transverse, as well as domes with sails. However, most of all, the then understanding of the organization of the internal space corresponded to the cross vault without ribs, which enriched the interior and streamlined it, without violating the longitudinal character of the building.

The Romanesque plan is based on simple geometric relationships. The side nave is half the width of the main nave and therefore there are two side nave elements for each square of the main nave plan. Between the two pylons loaded with the vault of the main nave and the vaults of the side aisle, there should be a pylon that takes the load of the vaults of only the side nave. Naturally, he can be slimmer. The alternation of massive and thinner pylons could create a rich rhythm, but the desire to eliminate the difference in the size of the pylons turned out to be stronger: when using a six-part vault, when all the pylons were loaded evenly, they were made of the same thickness. The increase in the number of identical supports gives the impression of a longer interior space.

The apse is richly decorated, often decorated with "blind" arches, sometimes arranged in several tiers. The horizontal division of the main nave is formed by an arch and a belt of narrow high windows. The interior is decorated with paintings and enriched with overlays on the walls, "shoulder blades", profiled ledges, architecturally treated columns and pylons.

The column retains the classic three-part division. The surface of the columnar trunk is not always smooth, very often the trunk is covered with an ornament. The capital is initially very simple in shape (in the form of an inverted pyramid or cube), gradually enriched with various plant motifs, images of animals and figures.

Pylons, like columns, have a three-part division into a base, a trunk and a capital. In the early period, they are still very massive, and later they are facilitated by changing the proportions and dissected surface treatment. Columns are used where the vault has a small span or low height in underground crypts or in windows, when several narrow openings have joined together in a group.

The appearance of the Romanesque church meets its internal solution. This architecture is simple but in the form of blocks, sometimes of considerable size with small windows. The windows were made narrow not only for constructive reasons, but because they became glazed only in the Gothic period.

As a result of a simple combination of volumes, various compositions arose. The dominant position is occupied by the volume of the main nave with a semicircular apse, with one or more transverse naves. Different types of towers are placed in different ways. Usually, the bottom of them are installed on the facade, and the third, four - or octagonal, - above the intersection of the main and transverse naves. The greatest attention is paid to the western facade, which is decorated with architectural details, and often a portal with a sculptural relief. As well as windows, the portal, due to the large thickness of the walls, is formed by ledges, in the corners of which columns and sometimes complex sculptures are installed. The part of the wall above the lintel and under the portal arch is called the tympanum and is often decorated with rich relief. The upper part of the facade is dissected by an arcature frieze, blades and blind arcades. Less attention was paid to the side facades. The height of the Romanesque churches increases in the course of the development of the style so that the height of the main nave from the floor to the heel of the vault usually reaches twice the width of the nave.

Development of urban settlements. The first cities in southern and western Europe arise on the site of the former Roman military camps, which were military strongholds and administrative centers. They had a regular planning basis. A number of them existed in the early Middle Ages, but at that time they turned into shopping centers, which was predetermined by their location at the intersection of main roads.

Leeds Castle, builders unknown, XI-XII centuries, England

The focus of life in the early Middle Ages was the castles of powerful (secular and spiritual) feudal lords, churches and monasteries. In spontaneously emerging cities, architecture was just incipient, residential buildings were made of clay or wood. The fortified castle - the dwelling of the feudal lord and at the same time the fortress that protected his possessions - clearly expressed the character of the formidable era of feudal wars. Its layout was based on practical calculation. Usually located on the top of a mountain or rocky hill above a river or by the sea, the castle served as a defense during a siege and as a center for preparations for raids. The castle with a drawbridge and a fortified portal was surrounded by a moat, monolithic stone walls, crowned with battlements, towers and loopholes. The core of the fortress was formed by a massive round or quadrangular tower (donjon), consisting of several floors - the feudal lord's refuge. Around it is a vast courtyard with residential and office buildings. A picturesque compact grouping of crystalline volumes of the castle often completed the sheer cliffs, merging with them. Towering over squalid huts and houses, the castle was perceived as the embodiment of unshakable strength.

Church of St. Mary, builders unknown, XI century., England, Cambridge

The experience of building castles was subsequently transferred to monastic complexes, which were entire villages and fortress cities. The importance of the latter increased in the life of Europe in the 11-13 centuries. In their planning, usually asymmetric, the requirements of defense were strictly observed, sober consideration of the terrain features, etc. Typical buildings of Carolingian architecture and Romanesque art are the heavy tower of the old donjon in Loches (10th century), the castle of Gaillard on the Seine (12th century), the fortified city of Carcassonne in Provence (12-13th centuries), the abbey of Mont Saint Michel d ' Egil in France, the castle of Maurice de Sully (12th century, France), castles-palaces in Saint-Antonin, Auxerre (both - the first half of the 12th century, France), etc. A typical monument of the period of communal struggle in cities of the 13th century. - formidable towers of ancestral castles in San Gimipiapo in Italy (late 12th-early 13th century). The harsh beauty of these structures lies in the laconicism of powerful plastic volumes.

France... Monuments of Romanesque art are scattered throughout Western Europe. Most of them are in France, which in the 11-12 centuries. was not only the center of philosophical and theological movements, but also a wide spread of heretical teachings, to a certain extent overcoming the dogmatism of the official church. In the architecture of Central and Western France, there is the greatest variety in solving constructive problems, a wealth of forms. The features of a Romanesque temple are clearly expressed in it.

An example of it is the Church of Notre Dame la Grande in Poitiers (11-12 centuries). This is a low, low-light hall church, with a simple plan, with a low-protruding transept, with a poorly developed choir, framed by only three chapels. Almost equal in height, the three naves are covered with semi-cylipdric vaults and a common gable roof. The central nave is submerged in twilight - light enters it through the sparsely located windows of the side naves. The heaviness of the forms is emphasized by the squat three-tiered tower above the middle cross. The lower tier of the western facade is dissected by a portal and two semicircular arches extending into the thickness of the steppe. The upward movement, expressed by small pointed towers and a stepped pediment, is stopped by horizontal friezes with sculptures of saints. Rich ornamental carvings, typical of the Poitou school, spread over the surface of the wall, softening the rigor of the structure.

In the grandiose temples of Burgundy, which took first place among other French schools, the first steps were taken to change the design of the vaulted ceilings in the type of a basilical church with a high and wide middle nave, with many altars, transverse and side ships, an extensive choir and a developed, radially located crown chapels. The high, three-tiered central nave was covered with a box vault not with a semicircular arch, as in most Romanesque churches, but with light pointed outlines. A classic example of this complex type is the grandiose main five-nave monastery church of the Abbey of Cluny (1088-1107), destroyed in the early 19th century. Serving as the center of activity of the powerful Cluny Order of the 11th-12th centuries, it became a model for many temple buildings in Europe. She is close to the temples of Burgundy: in Pare le Manial (early 12th century), Wezede (first third of the 12th century) and Autun (first third of the 12th century). They are characterized by the presence of a wide hall located in front of the naves, the use of high towers.

Burgundy temples are distinguished by the perfection of forms, the clarity of the dismembered volumes, the measured rhythm, the completeness of the parts, their subordination to the whole. Monastic Romanesque churches are usually small in size, the vaults are low, and the transepts are small. With a similar layout, the design of the facades was different. For the southern regions of France, near the Mediterranean Sea, for the temples of Provence (in the past, the ancient Greek colony and the Roman province), a connection with the ancient late Roman order architecture is characteristic, the monuments of which have been preserved here in abundance, hall temples, simple in forms and proportions, prevailed. facades, sometimes reminiscent of Roman triumphal arches (the Church of Saint-Trofim in Arles, 12th century). Modified domed buildings penetrated the southwestern regions. The schools of Normandy, Auvergne, Poitou, Aquitaine, etc. had their own special features.

Germany... A special place in the construction of large cathedrals in Germany was held in the 12th century. powerful imperial cities on the Rhine (Speyer, Mainz, Worms). The cathedrals erected here are distinguished by the grandeur of massive clear cubic volumes, an abundance of heavy towers, and more dynamic silhouettes. In the Worms Cathedral (1171-1234, ill. 76), built of yellow-gray sandstone, the divisions of volumes are less developed than in French churches, which creates a sense of solidity of forms. Also not used is such a technique as a gradual increase in volumes, smooth linear rhythms.

The squat towers of the middle cross and four high round towers with cone-shaped stone tents at the corners of the temple on the western and eastern sides, as if cutting into the sky, give it the character of a severe fortress. Smooth surfaces of impenetrable walls with narrow windows dominate everywhere, only sparingly animated by a frieze in the form of arches along the cornice. Slightly protruding lisenes (blades are vertical flat and narrow ledges on the wall) connect the arched frieze, basement and galleries in the upper part. In the Worms Cathedral, the pressure of the vaults on the walls is relieved. The central nave is covered with a cross vault and aligned with the cross vaults of the side aisles. For this purpose, the so-called "connected system" was used, in which there are two side aisles for each span of the central nave. The edges of the external forms clearly express the internal volumetric-spatial structure of the building.

Italy... There was no stylistic unity in Italian architecture. This is largely due to the fragmentation of Italy and the gravitation of its individual regions to the culture of Byzantium or the Romanesque - those countries with which they were linked by long economic and cultural communication. Local late antique and early Christian traditions, the influence of the art of the medieval West and East determined the originality of the Romanesque architecture of the advanced schools of Central Italy - the cities of Tuscany and Lombardy, in the 11-12 centuries. freed from feudal dependence and began the extensive construction of city cathedrals. Lombard architecture was instrumental in the development of the vaulted structure and skeleton of the building.

In the architecture of Tuscany, the ancient tradition manifested itself in the completeness and harmonious clarity of forms, in the festivity of the appearance of the majestic ensemble in Pisa. It includes the five-nave Pisa Cathedral (1063-1118), the baptistery (baptismal place, 1153 - 14th century), the inclined bell tower - Campanile (Leaning Tower of Pisa, begun in 1174, completed in the 13-14th centuries) and the Camio cemetery -Santo. Each building stands out freely, standing out for its simple, enclosed volumes of a cube and cylinder and the sparkling whiteness of marble in a green-covered square near the Tyrrhenian Sea. In the breakdown of the masses, proportionality has been achieved. Graceful white marble Romanesque arcades with Roman-Corinthian and composite capitals divide the façade and outer walls of all structures into tiers, facilitating their massiveness and emphasizing the structure. The large cathedral gives an impression of lightness, which is enhanced by inlays of colored marble of dark red and dark green (a similar decor was typical for Florence, where the so-called "inlay style" became widespread). An elliptical dome above the crosshair completed its clear and harmonious image.

Leaning tower of pisa... For more than eight centuries the famous tower on the Square of Miracles in the Italian city of Pisa has been "falling". The tower deviates from the vertical by one millimeter annually. The residents of the city themselves call their falling campanilla a "protracted miracle." The architectural ensemble in the Piazza del Miracles in Pisa includes four structures: the Duomo (which means "cathedral" in Italian), the baptistery (baptismal chamber), campanilla (bell tower) and the Campo Santo covered cemetery. It was founded at the end of XII - beginning of XIII centuries.

Leaning Tower of Pisa, Bonanno Diotisalvi, 1153, completed XIV century, Italy, Pisa

According to legend, for this purpose, land brought here from Palestine, from Mount Golgotha, was specially brought here. The cemetery's Gothic arcades are decorated with frescoes depicting the underworld and the Last Judgment. The construction of the cathedral began in 1063 (after the victorious naval battle against the Saracens at Palermo) by the famous architects Buschetto and Rainoldo at that time. It was built slowly then, and the cathedral was erected for 55 years. The baptistery was built even longer - as much as 120 years.

The construction of this round marble building began in the Romanesque style, which was later mixed with Gothic elements. The chapel pulpit is decorated with a relief depicting scenes from the life of Jesus Christ. But all the records for the duration of construction were broken by Campanilla, the author of the construction of which is believed to be the architect Bonanno. But there are suggestions that the campanilla was designed by the same architects who built the cathedral, that is, Buschetto and Reinoldo. Most likely they are the architects of the entire ensemble, which stands out on Miracles Square. And Bonanno, apparently, was just a contractor who took up the construction of the bell tower.

And so in 1173 (or 1174), under the leadership of everyone respected Bonanno in Pisa, next to the cathedral, the construction of a bell tower began. This outstanding structure of the Romanesque style has had an extraordinary fate. Having built the first floor 11 meters high and two colonnaded rings, Bonanno found that the bell tower deviated from the vertical by four centimeters. The master stopped working and ... disappeared from the city. Some historians believe that he himself fled the city. Others believe that the city fathers, enraged by the architect's miscalculation, did not take into account the shaky ground and, as a result, ruined the entire magnificent ensemble, expelled him. Be that as it may, but Bonanno then lived in poverty and died in complete obscurity. From time to time, work on the construction of the bell tower was resumed, and by 1233 only four floors were built. Only a hundred years after the start of construction, in 1275, the city authorities found a daredevil who risked continuing the construction of the bell tower. When the architect Giovanni di Simoni resumed work, the deviation of the upper eaves of the tower from the vertical was 50 centimeters. And he decided to turn the tower's drawback, the inclined position, into its main advantage. The most precise mathematical calculation and the great skill of the architect allowed him to build on the tower for five more floors. Building on it, the architect laid out the next floors, exceeding them from the inclined side by five, seven, ten centimeters. But Campanilla continued to fall. G. di Simoni did not dare to crown the entire construction with the bell tower - the risk was too great. Therefore, having finished the fifth colonnaded floor, he stopped working. Nothing is known about his further fate. In 1350, when the deviation from the vertical was already 92 centimeters, the architect Tomaso di Andrea got down to work. Like its predecessor, he raised the next floor from the inclined side by 11 centimeters, and "piled up" the belfry in the direction opposite to the slope. Only after that did he erect a bell tower with a bronze bell over the eight tiers of the tower. So, after 164 years, the construction of the tower was finally completed. True, it turned out to be shortened by four floors and without a roof. And according to the plan, its first floor was supposed to be high, then 10 floors with balconies, the 12th floor was a belfry, and the roof was to crown the campanilla. The total height of the tower was supposed to be 98 meters.

There have been many attempts to save the tower. In 1936, liquid concrete, cement and glass were introduced into its base under pressure. In 1961, according to the project of the Polish scientist R. Cebertovich, an attempt was made to compact loose and subsiding soil layers using electrokinetic processes. But none of these methods stopped the fall of the tower, which continued to tilt at its former rate - one millimeter per year. The fate of the most famous "falling" tower - the Leaning Tower - worries the whole world. Its deviation from the vertical is already more than five meters. In April 1965, the old bell ringer Encho Gilardi climbed the 294 steps to the bell tower for the last time. Since then, its functions have been performed by an electrical device. Day and night, 100 automatic cameras and cinema cameras aim at the tower, waiting for its fall. It has already been calculated that if nothing is done, then in the next 50 years the tower will lose stability and fall. But once upon a time the great Galileo Galilei performed his experiments on the law of free fall of bodies from her balcony.

Roman or roman style , which the British also call Norman, originated in the art of Western Europe, in the 11th century. He expressed himself especially vividly in architecture. It became a logical continuation of the architecture of the times of antiquity. The monks spread the Romanesque style. For their orders, builders' artels erected buildings in Europe. therefore the main buildings of Romanesque architecture are churches, monasteries and temples... Thus, we can once again observe how religion influenced the development of culture.

Characteristic features of Romanesque architecture

Signs of Romanesque architecture

The Roman style is feudal fortresses, monasteries, castles and basilicas, altered beyond recognition under its influence. The new architecture was formed in the 13th century by the Alans, Huns and Goths who arrived from the east. In Europe at that time, wars often flared up, which is why it came in handy for fortifications in the Romanesque style with semicircular arches, heavy walls and cross or cylindrical vaults.

Romanesque buildings have always been distinguished by their laconicism. These clear, solid and solid buildings were in perfect harmony with the surrounding landscape, thanks to deep portals with steps, massive and even partitions, narrow window openings. Romanesque architecture is a structure in the form of fortified cathedrals and palaces. In their center is a tower called a donjon, which is surrounded by cubes, prisms and cylinders of other buildings. Stone structures of temples and capitals support huge pillars or pylons. Simple geometric shapes, embossed or carved walls have become the main features of buildings in the Roman style.

The theological character of Romanesque architecture unites the unity and forms of its proportionate and neat elements. This strict style does not recognize excesses. Its main feature was and remains practicality. But at the same time, Romanesque architecture allows for rectangular and round windows with canvas shutters. Shamrocks, eyes and ears are also common.

What is central to Romanesque architecture

Romanesque architecture

The Romanesque style is based on massive and enormous features. The buildings seem to show the power and authority of the owner. It's amazing how such simple and rational buildings crush. Romanesque architecture led to the fact that temple basilicas began to be vaulted. The walls and pylons were also distinguished by their strength and thickness. The space was organized longitudinally. The eastern altar and choir, as well as the temple itself, have increased significantly in size. The coffered cathedral ceiling was replaced with stone vaults. Columns divided the naves into parts.

Romanesque walls are decorated with painted bas-reliefs. The inside of the building is often carpeted. The interior can also be decorated with embarrassed, tragic or divine sculptures. The medieval atmosphere of Romanesque architecture displaces corporeality with its soul. It was she who led to the appearance of the first stained glass windows. The columns and capitals of the temples are decorated with different images and motives.

Turkic and northern Iranian tribes enriched European culture, which is why architecture was synthesized with sculpture. Cathedral portals were crowned with stone sacred characters, which began to influence the worshipers even more.

Features of construction in the Romanesque style

Stone became the main building material of Romanesque architecture. At first, fortresses and temples were built from it, but soon other secular stone buildings began to appear. Limestone deposits along the French rivers made it possible to build all the structures of that time. They even had ornaments on the outer walls.

The Italians clad their walls with marble, of which they have plenty. It was cut or made into blocks. The stones for construction in the Middle Ages were smaller than in antiquity. They could easily be obtained from quarries and delivered to construction sites.

With a lack of stone, brick was used, which differed from the modern one in greater thickness and shorter length. This very hard material was heavily baked. Romanesque buildings made of such bricks can still be found in England, Germany, France and Italy.

How urban settlements developed

Romanesque European cities became trade centers as they were located at the intersection of major roads. The dwellings here are mostly fortified, and the feudal houses look like towers or fortresses.

Romanesque style in British architecture

The decor of the castles in this country is minimalistic. It was not easy to build such impressive structures. They required high costs, so decorating was not the main task. The stones in the castle walls are neatly fitted, which provides such structures with strength. Window glazing used to be a luxury, so the openings for light were made small.

English Romanesque architecture

The Romanesque style came to England with the Norman conquerors. There, instead of wooden towers, they began to erect cubic structures of stone in two floors. Archers' bivouacs surrounded palisades, ditches and dungeons, in which they took refuge from enemy raids. The Tower, erected in 1077, is the most famous example of English Romanesque architecture. His donjon is the White Tower. From the Normans, the British adopted the unification of the monastery and the parish church, as well as the two-tower structure of the western facade. Durham Cathedral is an example of this.

Examples of Roman architecture in Germany

Romanesque architecture in Germany

The German Cathedral of Worms is an excellent example of Romanesque architecture. It was built for over 100 years. Here, arched cornice friezes refresh the flat walls and small windows. German castles in the cities of Goslar, Gelnhausen, Seeburg and Eisenach perfectly convey the spirit of the Roman era. Their hexagonal courtyards are surrounded by fortified partitions with fortified gates.

How the Romanesque style was reflected in the architecture of France, Spain and Italy

Romanesque architecture of France

In France, architecture with a Romanesque touch led to the appearance of temples for pilgrims with choirs and chapels. The basilicas became three-aisled. The Church of Poitiers belongs to the Burgundian school of the Roman era.

In Spain, during the Romanesque period, they began to build fortifications for cities and fortress palaces. Churches and temples were similar to the French. This can be seen especially clearly from the Cathedral in Salamanca.

The Roman direction of architecture forced Italian architects to adhere to the basic and centric types for churches. Examples of this are the Lombard and Tuscan cathedrals with their typical facades, which were decorated with lisennes, sculptures, mini-galleries and porticoes. The Parma architectural ensemble of the baptistery, church and bell tower conveys all this.

The interior of Romanesque cathedrals from the inside

Interior of Romanesque cathedrals

Temples from the Roman period contained three halls, delimiting the parish premises. The Byzantine cylindrical pillars even later moved to the Gothic direction. And the cubic capitals were crossed by balls. The walls along with them were covered with relief sculptures.

At the beginning of the tenth century, primitive stained-glass windows appeared, which later turned into full-fledged paintings from colored glass of many colors. At the same time, together with them, the interior was decorated with vessels and lamps made of glass.

Famous architectural monuments in the Roman style

Architectural monuments in the Romanesque style

Romanesque architecture is common throughout Western Europe. Expressive arcades in cathedrals, leaning towers and baptisteries can be seen in Pisa. France is famous for its domed churches. Sicily is replete with vaulted buildings with pointed arches.

The imposing and austere Romanesque monuments with small doors and windows and heavy walls are sparingly decorated. These buildings are structurally simple and clear. Most of them are in France. Romanesque temples are calm and solemnly severe. Feudal castles in the form of a fortress have always accepted and saved the villagers from attacks. These buildings were located on hills so that it was possible not only to defend the possessions, but also to observe them. The castles are equipped with drawbridges and fortified portals, surrounded by moats, huge stone walls with loopholes, towers and battlements.

The Monastery of Saint Odile in Alsace attracts pilgrims not only with a functioning church, but also with a healing source that is useful for the blind.

The Basilica of Saint-Sernin in Toulouse is a memory of the abbey of the same name that once existed. Its Romanesque architecture is famous among visitors, so a roomy hotel is attached to the church for them. The brick basilica differs from typical Romanesque stone structures. Its nave is surrounded by paths convenient for pilgrims.

The UNESCO World Heritage Site also includes Romanesque churches located in the Val de Boi. Churches in the Pyrenean thickets have escaped wars and are well preserved. They are the most ancient Spanish buildings. Tourists get to the churches along the mountain serpentines to see what kind of Romanesque architecture it is.
The Spaniards especially love to do this. The buildings were built by special architects from Lombardy. They preserved early Roman frescoes, which were transported to the National Museum of Catalonia, in Barcelona. Some churches are located not only in the villages, but also in the mountains. Cemeteries are located near the temples.

The old Parisian church of St. Herman in Lugi is very impressive for visiting tourists. Inside, the cathedral is quiet and calm. Descartes is buried here. It seems that the Romanesque architecture of the temple helps to distract from bad thoughts. Saint Herman, the miracle worker, was the protector of the poor. The church is named in the meadows due to the fact that it is located outside the city.

Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary of the 12th century in Gurka

The 12th century Austrian Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Gorka is an example of a Romanesque basilica. He has galleries, a tomb, apses and towers available. The 17th century Belgian Notre Dame Cathedral in Tournai is the main legacy of Wallonia. This massive building with semicircular arches, five bell towers, a cluster and a Romanesque hall looks very austere. The 12th century St. Longinus Rotunda in Prague initially served as a village parish church. It was later restored as it turned out to be destroyed.

In France, Romanesque architecture is represented by the Cathedral of St. Trofims from the 15th century in Arles, and the church of Saint-Saven-sur-Gartamp from the mid-11th century In Germany, a typical example of the era described is the imperial church of the 13th century in Bamberg. It is famous for its own four massive towers. The 12th century Irish cathedral at Clonfert is crowned with a Romanesque doorway. On it are the heads of people and animals, as well as leaves.

Italy is famous for its 11th century abbey in Abruzzo and the 12th century cathedral in Modena, which is a World Heritage Site. In the Netherlands, an example of Romanesque architecture is the Basilica of St. 11th century Servatia in Maastricht. And the Polish doors of the 12th century cathedral in Gniezno are decorated with Romanesque bas-reliefs. In the same place, in Kruschwitz, there is a monastery of Peter and Paul of 1120, which was built from granite and sandstone. It has an apse, presbytery and transept. The Polish St. Andrew's Church in Krakow was originally built as a defensive facility.

Lisbon cathedral

Portugal also has its own example of Roman architecture - this is the Lisbon Cathedral of 1147. This church is the oldest in the city. It was built in a mixed style, but it is best known for its Roman iron gates. In Slovakia, the Romanesque style is represented by the Cathedral of St. Martin 13-15 centuries. There are marble tombstones and painted walls that tell the story of the coronation of Charles Robert of Anjou.

So, if you sum up all of the above, then you can end it with the fact that romanesque architecture strongly influenced the next development of culture and interior of other periods... It gradually spilled over into the Gothic, then into Mannerism, and then into the avant-garde.

The world of the European Middle Ages was distinguished by its closed life, which led to the coexistence of several independent and parallel cultural trends. In rare cities, new customs were born, chivalrous castles lived their own lives, peasants adhered to rural traditions, and the Christian church sought to spread theological ideas. This motley picture of medieval life gave rise to two directions in terms of architecture: Romanesque and Gothic. Romanesque architecture originated in the 10th century, marking a period of calm after numerous civil wars. This style is considered the first pan-European style, which sets it apart from other post-Roman architectural trends.

Romanesque art

Romanesque style is a European style of architecture and art of the 11th-12th centuries, characterized by massiveness and grandeur. Its origin is associated with the revival of church building. When the period of decline ended, monastic orders began to appear, complex forms of liturgies arose, which required the construction of new spacious buildings and the improvement of construction techniques.

Thus, simultaneously with the development of early Christianity, the Romanesque style also developed in the architecture of the Middle Ages.

Romanesque and Gothic styles

The Gothic style is considered the successor to the Romanesque. France became his homeland, and the emergence is attributed to the middle of the XII century. Gothic quickly spread throughout Europe and dominated there until the 16th century.

The name of the style comes from the name of the Gothic tribes. During the Renaissance, it was believed that it was they who created medieval architecture. The Romanesque and Gothic styles are strikingly different, despite the close time of existence.

Gothic buildings are famous for their airiness and lightness, cross vaults, spiers directed to the sky, pointed arches and openwork decor. Some of these features appeared in the late period of Romanesque art, but received the highest flowering in the Gothic. Until the 16th century. prevailed in Europe and Gothic architecture was actively developing.

The Romanesque and Gothic styles, thus, are two stages of the architectural development of the Middle Ages, reflecting the peculiarities of life and state structure of that time.

Iconic Romanesque buildings

Romanesque architecture has a harsh serfdom in nature, its samples are fortresses, monasteries, castles located on hills and intended for defense. The murals and reliefs of such structures had half-fabulous subjects, reflected the divine omnipotence and were largely borrowed from folklore.

The Romanesque style in architecture, like all the art of the Middle Ages, reflects the cultural and economic stagnation of Western European countries. This is due to the fact that the achievements of the Romans in the construction craft were lost, and the level of technology has significantly decreased. But gradually, with the development of feudalism, new types of buildings began to take shape: fortified feudal dwellings, monastic complexes, basilicas. The latter acted as the basis for religious construction.

The basilica of the Middle Ages took much from the late Roman architecture of the period of the formation of the early Christian temple. Such buildings represent an architectural composition with an elongated space, which is divided into several naves by rows of columns. In the middle nave, which was wider than the others and better consecrated, an altar was erected. Often the courtyard building was surrounded by galleries - an atrium where the baptismal bowl was located. The basilicas of St. Apollinarius in Ravenna and St. Paul in Rome are early Romanesque architecture.

Romanesque art gradually developed, and the basilicas began to increase the space intended for the altar and choir, new rooms appeared, the naves began to be divided into tiers. And by the XI century. a traditional scheme for the construction of such structures was formed.

Construction techniques

Improvements in construction have been driven by a number of pressing issues. For example, wooden floors, suffering from constant fires, were replaced by vaulted structures. Cylindrical and cross vaults began to be erected over the main naves, and this required strengthening the wall supports. The main achievement of Romanesque architecture was the development of a constructive scheme, which involved directing the main efforts - with the help of supporting arches and cross vaults - to certain points and dividing the wall into the wall itself and buttresses (pillars), located in places where the thrust forces reached the greatest pressure. This design formed the basis of Gothic architecture.

Features of the Romanesque style in architecture are manifested in the fact that architects tend to place the main vertical supports outside the outer walls. Gradually, this principle of differentiation becomes mandatory.

Limestone, as well as other rocks, which were rich in the surrounding area: granite, marble, brick and volcanic rubble, were most often used for construction. The laying process was simple: medium-sized hewn stones were fastened with mortar. Dry techniques have never been used. The stones themselves could be of different lengths and heights and were carefully processed only from the front side.

Examples of the Romanesque style in architecture: Dudley castles (England) and Sully (France), St. Mary's Church (Germany), Sterling Castle (Scotland).

Romanesque buildings

The Romanesque style in the architecture of the Middle Ages is distinguished by a wide variety of directions. Each region of Western Europe has contributed its own artistic tastes and traditions to the development of local art. Thus, the Romanesque buildings of France are different from the German ones, and the German ones are not similar to the Spanish ones to the same extent.

Romanesque architecture of France

France's huge contribution to the development of Romanesque architecture is associated with the organization and planning of the altar of church buildings. So, the appearance of the crown of the chapel is associated with the establishment of the tradition of daily reading of the Mass. The first building with such an innovation is considered to be the church at the Benedictine monastery "Saint-Fliber", built in the XII century.

The Romanesque style in French architecture gradually adapted to the conditions of the surrounding reality. For example, in order to protect buildings from the constant attacks of the Magyars, fire-resistant structures were created; to accommodate a large number of parishioners, the interior and exterior spaces of the cathedrals were gradually rebuilt and redesigned.

Romanesque architecture in Germany

The Romanesque style in Germany was developed by three main schools: the Rhine, Westphalian and Saxon.

The Saxon school is distinguished by the dominance of buildings like a basilica with flat ceilings, characteristic of the early Christian period. The experience of church architecture in France was often used. So, as a prototype of many structures, they took the monastery church in Cluny, made in the Basilican form and having flat wooden floors. This continuity is due to the influence of the French Order of the Benedictines.

The interiors were characterized by calm and simple proportions. Unlike French churches, in Saxon buildings there was no roundabout in the choir, but the supports alternated: columns were installed between square pillars or two pillars were replaced by two columns. Examples of such structures are the Church of St. Godenhard (Hildesheim) and the cathedral in the city of Quedlinburg. This placement of the supports divided the interior space of the temple into several separate cells, which gave the whole decoration originality and unique charm.

In the performance of the Saxon school, the architecture of the Romanesque style acquired simplicity and clarity of geometric shapes. The decor was small and sparse, the interior was distinguished by austerity, windows were rarely located and at high heights - all this gave the buildings a fortress and austere character.

The School of Westphalia specialized in building hall-type churches, which were a space divided into three equal-height naves with stone vaults. An example of such a structure is the chapel of St. Bartholomew (Paderborn), built in the 11th century. Temples of the Westphalian school were built without a clear and proportional division of space into parts, that is, the composition of the facades did not reflect the comparison of parts of the building and its volumes. Also, the buildings were distinguished by the absence of any sculptural decorations.

A characterization of the Romanesque style in architecture would be incomplete without a mention of the Rhine school. Here the main emphasis is on the structural features of the floors. They were constructed according to the "linked Romanesque system", the essence of which was that the vaults of the side aisles rested on the middle spacer. Thus, the supports alternated: massive pillars held the vault of the main hall, and the weight of the side ones fell on the light intermediate supports.

In the cathedrals and churches of the Rhine school, the architectural decor was also as stingy as possible. Often, decorative arcades were built outside, such as in the Speyer Cathedral, the appearance of which, in spite of its simplicity, is distinguished by very expressive forms. In short, the stern grandeur and power embodied the German Romanesque style.

The architectural Romanesque style was the epitome of the feudal period in history. And it was in the monuments of medieval Germany that the monumentality and gloomy inviolability of this era reached the heights.

Romanesque architecture of Italy

As in the case with the architecture of other European countries, the architecture of Italy was different. Everything depended on the traditions and living conditions of the region in which the building was built. Thus, the provinces of the northern part of the country created their own style, distinguished by its monumentality. It arose under the influence of the Romanesque style of France, the palace architecture of Germany and is associated with the emergence of brick building techniques.

The Romanesque architecture of the Northern Italian provinces is characterized by powerful arcaded facades, dwarf galleries located under the cornice, portals, the columns of which stood on animal sculptures. Examples of such structures are the Church of San Michele (Padua), the cathedrals of Parma and Modena, XI-XII centuries.

The architects of Florence and Pisa have created an original and cheerful version of the Romanesque style. Due to the richness of these areas in marble and stone, almost all structures were made from these reliable materials. The Florentine style was largely the heir to Roman architecture, and cathedrals were often decorated in an antique style.

As for Rome itself and southern Italy, these areas practically did not play a role in the formation of Romanesque architecture.

Normandy architecture

After the adoption of Christianity, the Church established clear requirements for the construction of temples and cathedrals that embodied Romanesque art. The Romanesque style, characterized by the cumbersome structures, not accustomed to the excesses and impracticality of the Vikings, sought to reduce to the necessary minimum. The builders immediately rejected the massive cylindrical vaults, preferring the rafter floors.

A striking example of Romanesque architecture in Normandy are the churches of the abbeys "Sante Trinité" (convent) and "Santa Etienne" (male). At the same time, Trinity Church (11th century) is considered the first building in Europe where a two-span cross vault was designed and installed.

The greatest merit of the Norman school is that, in accordance with the centuries-old traditions and experience of frame structure, it creatively rethought the borrowed structures and schemes of structures.

Romanesque architecture of England

After the Normans conquered England, they changed their policy style to a constructive one. And as a sign of political and cultural unity, they came up with two types of buildings: a castle and a church.

Romanesque architecture was quickly adopted by the British and accelerated building activity in the country. The first building to be built was Westminster Abbey. This structure included the middle cross tower, twin towers to the west, and three eastern apses.

The 11th century for England was marked by the construction of many church buildings, among which there are Winchester, Canterbury cathedrals, the Abbey of St. Edmond and many other buildings in the Romanesque style. Many of these buildings were later reconstructed and altered, but from the surviving documents and the remains of ancient structures, one can imagine the impressive monumentality and appearance of the buildings.

The Normans proved to be skillful builders of castles and fortresses, and the Tower is one of the clearest proofs of this. This fortification, built on the orders of Wilhelm, was the most impressive structure of that era. Subsequently, such a combination of a residential building and a defensive fortification became widespread in Europe.

The Romanesque style in England is usually called Norman due to the fact that the construction was carried out by the Vikings, realizing their architectural designs. But gradually the orientation of the created structures towards defense and strengthening was replaced by the desire for decoration and luxury. And by the end of the XII century. the Romanesque style gave way to the Gothic.

Romanesque architecture of Belarus

The Romanesque style in the architecture of Belarus emerged after the adoption of Christianity, when Byzantine architects began to build churches in accordance with the European tradition.

Since the XI century. towers, castles, temples, monasteries, city houses, made in the style we are considering, began to appear in the country. These buildings were notable for their massiveness, monumentality and severity, and were decorated with sculptures and geometric ornaments.

However, to date, very few monuments of Romanesque architecture have survived. This is due to the fact that many buildings were destroyed during frequent wars, or they were reconstructed in subsequent years. So, for example, St. Sophia Cathedral (Polotsk), erected in the middle of the 11th century, has come down to us in a heavily rebuilt form, and it is not possible to determine its original appearance today.

The architecture of Belarus at that time was distinguished by the use of a large number of construction techniques and techniques. The most famous and striking examples are the Cathedral of the Spaso-Euphrosyne Monastery (Polotsk), the Church of the Annunciation (Vitebsk), the Church of Borisoglebskaya (Grodno). These buildings combine the features of Old Russian architecture and the basilica inherent in the Romanesque style.

Thus, already in the XII century. the Romanesque style began to gradually penetrate the Slavic lands and transform the architecture of Belarus.

Conclusion

Thus, the Romanesque style began to emerge in architecture during the Middle Ages (V-X centuries), and it manifested itself in different European countries in different ways, depending on geographical, political and national characteristics. Throughout that era, in parallel, practically without touching, various architectural trends existed and developed, which led to the originality and uniqueness of structures in various European countries.

During the Middle Ages, the Romanesque style had a great influence on the formation of monastic complexes, which included a temple, hospitals, refectories, libraries, bakeries and many other buildings. In turn, these complexes influenced the structure and location of urban buildings. But the immediate development of city fortifications began in the subsequent period, when the Gothic style already reigned.

The Romanesque style in architecture is majestic and massive, its history is rich and stretches for more than a millennium. No frills, only the severity and severity of the external appearance. We will talk about the history of this style today.

The emergence of the Romanesque style can be attributed to about 800 AD, at the same time the collapse of the great Roman Empire took place. The Romanesque style borrowed many of its features from Byzantine Christian art, as well as its early forms, it took something from Antiquity, even the Middle East contributed its features to its formation, which lasted from the 10th to the 12th century.

In fact, the Romanesque style is the first medieval example of artistic vision, which united most of the countries of Western Europe and walked along Eastern Europe. The formation of European medieval art is largely due to the Romanesque style.

Romanesque features

Among the main features of the style - the severity of expression of architectural forms, massiveness, conservatism.

The buildings of this era are not just houses, but castles, churches that look like a fortress... In general, architecture has a theological bias. On the one hand, such structures performed their direct functions, and if necessary, they could hold a siege, since the walls were thick, the windows were often small and round, sometimes they looked more like narrow loopholes, and there could be towers around the perimeter - an excellent place for inspecting military positions.

Externally, a Romanesque building can be distinguished by its massive walls, heavy semicircular doors, vaulted rooms, and thick columns. Nothing was built from wood - only a rock, only this material met the potential safety requirements.

The interior of the Romanesque castles was appropriately decorated. The semi-circular arches of the ceiling gave the impression of a decrease in free space. For the walls, marble, patterned tiles were most often used, for wall decoration - Venetian plaster and painting.

Such interiors could evoke associations of security, bulkiness, heaviness, but not grace. Minimum decor, More military theme- knightly armor, emblems, weapons, etc.

Leading colors Romanesque buildings - natural brown, gray, green, black and white. In short, all natural colors.

In fact, for several centuries of its existence, the pious Romanesque style has hardly undergone any changes.

Examples of Romanesque buildings

Examples of Romanesque buildings can be found in almost all European cities.

For instance, Limburg Cathedral, Lan Peninsula, Germany - a true example of the classic Romanesque style. It was built in the 13th century and has been perfectly preserved to this day. At one time, this cathedral served as a parish church, and then became a cathedral. The square-shaped building is crowned with seven pointed towers. The cathedral seems to strive upward, striking with a multitude of arched windows - narrow and wide. The simplicity of the geometric pattern, the almost complete absence of luxuriant decoration and the contrasting red and white color of the facades - all this makes the cathedral a vivid example of the style under discussion.

Pisa Cathedral (Italy) was built in 1063 and incorporated all the features of the Romanesque style, plus the features of others, thus creating an unsurpassed Pisa Romanesque style, emphasizing the scope of the Pisa trade. The huge cathedral of strict cruciform shape is striking in its size. Gray marble facades emphasize the power of the building, while narrow arched windows indicate belonging to the original Romanesque movement. Statues of the evangelists are installed on four sides of the cathedral, four floors are decorated with columnar arcades. Inside the temple there are wonderful mosaics, marble decor and an incredible colonnade.

The world of the European Middle Ages was distinguished by its closed life, which led to the coexistence of several independent and parallel cultural trends. In rare cities, new customs were born, chivalrous castles lived their own lives, peasants adhered to rural traditions, and the Christian church sought to spread theological ideas. This motley picture of medieval life gave rise to two directions in terms of architecture: Romanesque and Gothic. Romanesque architecture originated in the 10th century, marking a period of calm after numerous civil wars. This style is considered the first pan-European style, which sets it apart from other post-Roman architectural trends.

Romanesque art

Romanesque style is a European style of architecture and art of the 11th-12th centuries, characterized by massiveness and grandeur. Its origin is associated with the revival of church building. When the period of decline ended, monastic orders began to appear, complex forms of liturgies arose, which required the construction of new spacious buildings and the improvement of construction techniques.

Thus, simultaneously with the development of early Christianity, the Romanesque style also developed in the architecture of the Middle Ages.

Romanesque and Gothic styles

The Gothic style is considered the successor to the Romanesque. France became his homeland, and the emergence is attributed to the middle of the XII century. Gothic quickly spread throughout Europe and dominated there until the 16th century.

The name of the style comes from the name of the Gothic tribes. During the Renaissance, it was believed that it was they who created medieval architecture. The Romanesque and Gothic styles are strikingly different, despite the close time of existence.

Gothic buildings are famous for their airiness and lightness, cross vaults, spiers directed to the sky, pointed arches and openwork decor. Some of these features appeared in the late period of Romanesque art, but received the highest flowering in the Gothic. Until the 16th century. prevailed in Europe and Gothic architecture was actively developing.

The Romanesque and Gothic styles, thus, are two stages of the architectural development of the Middle Ages, reflecting the peculiarities of life and state structure of that time.

Iconic Romanesque buildings

Romanesque architecture has a harsh serfdom in nature, its samples are fortresses, monasteries, castles located on hills and intended for defense. The murals and reliefs of such structures had half-fabulous subjects, reflected the divine omnipotence and were largely borrowed from folklore.

The Romanesque style in architecture, like all the art of the Middle Ages, reflects the cultural and economic stagnation of Western European countries. This is due to the fact that the achievements of the Romans in the construction craft were lost, and the level of technology has significantly decreased. But gradually, with the development of feudalism, new types of buildings began to take shape: fortified feudal dwellings, monastic complexes, basilicas. The latter acted as the basis for religious construction.

The basilica of the Middle Ages took much from the late Roman architecture of the period of the formation of the early Christian temple. Such buildings represent an architectural composition with an elongated space, which is divided into several naves by rows of columns. In the middle nave, which was wider than the others and better consecrated, an altar was erected. Often the courtyard building was surrounded by galleries - an atrium where the baptismal bowl was located. The basilicas of St. Apollinarius in Ravenna and St. Paul in Rome are early Romanesque architecture.

Romanesque art gradually developed, and the basilicas began to increase the space intended for the altar and choir, new rooms appeared, the naves began to be divided into tiers. And by the XI century. a traditional scheme for the construction of such structures was formed.

Construction techniques

Improvements in construction have been driven by a number of pressing issues. For example, wooden floors, suffering from constant fires, were replaced by vaulted structures. Cylindrical and cross vaults began to be erected over the main naves, and this required strengthening the wall supports. The main achievement of Romanesque architecture was the development of a constructive scheme, which involved directing the main efforts - with the help of supporting arches and cross vaults - to certain points and dividing the wall into the wall itself and buttresses (pillars), located in places where the thrust forces reached the greatest pressure. This design formed the basis of Gothic architecture.

Features of the Romanesque style in architecture are manifested in the fact that architects tend to place the main vertical supports outside the outer walls. Gradually, this principle of differentiation becomes mandatory.

Limestone, as well as other rocks, which were rich in the surrounding area: granite, marble, brick and volcanic rubble, were most often used for construction. The laying process was simple: medium-sized hewn stones were fastened with mortar. Dry techniques have never been used. The stones themselves could be of different lengths and heights and were carefully processed only from the front side.

Examples of the Romanesque style in architecture: Dudley castles (England) and Sully (France), St. Mary's Church (Germany), Sterling Castle (Scotland).

Romanesque buildings

The Romanesque style in the architecture of the Middle Ages is distinguished by a wide variety of directions. Each region of Western Europe has contributed its own artistic tastes and traditions to the development of local art. Thus, the Romanesque buildings of France are different from the German ones, and the German ones are not similar to the Spanish ones to the same extent.

Romanesque architecture of France

France's huge contribution to the development of Romanesque architecture is associated with the organization and planning of the altar of church buildings. So, the appearance of the crown of the chapel is associated with the establishment of the tradition of daily reading of the Mass. The first building with such an innovation is considered to be the church at the Benedictine monastery "Saint-Fliber", built in the XII century.

The Romanesque style in French architecture gradually adapted to the conditions of the surrounding reality. For example, in order to protect buildings from the constant attacks of the Magyars, fire-resistant structures were created; to accommodate a large number of parishioners, the interior and exterior spaces of the cathedrals were gradually rebuilt and redesigned.

Romanesque architecture in Germany

The Romanesque style in Germany was developed by three main schools: the Rhine, Westphalian and Saxon.

The Saxon school is distinguished by the dominance of buildings like a basilica with flat ceilings, characteristic of the early Christian period. The experience of church architecture in France was often used. So, as a prototype of many structures, they took the monastery church in Cluny, made in the Basilican form and having flat wooden floors. This continuity is due to the influence of the French Order of the Benedictines.

The interiors were characterized by calm and simple proportions. Unlike French churches, in Saxon buildings there was no roundabout in the choir, but the supports alternated: columns were installed between square pillars or two pillars were replaced by two columns. Examples of such structures are the Church of St. Godenhard (Hildesheim) and the cathedral in the city of Quedlinburg. This placement of the supports divided the interior space of the temple into several separate cells, which gave the whole decoration originality and unique charm.

In the performance of the Saxon school, the architecture of the Romanesque style acquired simplicity and clarity of geometric shapes. The decor was small and sparse, the interior was distinguished by austerity, windows were rarely located and at high heights - all this gave the buildings a fortress and austere character.

The School of Westphalia specialized in building hall-type churches, which were a space divided into three equal-height naves with stone vaults. An example of such a structure is the chapel of St. Bartholomew (Paderborn), built in the 11th century. Temples of the Westphalian school were built without a clear and proportional division of space into parts, that is, the composition of the facades did not reflect the comparison of parts of the building and its volumes. Also, the buildings were distinguished by the absence of any sculptural decorations.

A characterization of the Romanesque style in architecture would be incomplete without a mention of the Rhine school. Here the main emphasis is on the structural features of the floors. They were constructed according to the "linked Romanesque system", the essence of which was that the vaults of the side aisles rested on the middle spacer. Thus, the supports alternated: massive pillars held the vault of the main hall, and the weight of the side ones fell on the light intermediate supports.

In the cathedrals and churches of the Rhine school, the architectural decor was also as stingy as possible. Often, decorative arcades were built outside, such as in the Speyer Cathedral, the appearance of which, in spite of its simplicity, is distinguished by very expressive forms. In short, the stern grandeur and power embodied the German Romanesque style.

The architectural Romanesque style was the epitome of the feudal period in history. And it was in the monuments of medieval Germany that the monumentality and gloomy inviolability of this era reached the heights.

Romanesque architecture of Italy

As in the case with the architecture of other European countries, the architecture of Italy was different. Everything depended on the traditions and living conditions of the region in which the building was built. Thus, the provinces of the northern part of the country created their own style, distinguished by its monumentality. It arose under the influence of the Romanesque style of France, the palace architecture of Germany and is associated with the emergence of brick building techniques.

The Romanesque architecture of the Northern Italian provinces is characterized by powerful arcaded facades, dwarf galleries located under the cornice, portals, the columns of which stood on animal sculptures. Examples of such structures are the Church of San Michele (Padua), the cathedrals of Parma and Modena, XI-XII centuries.

The architects of Florence and Pisa have created an original and cheerful version of the Romanesque style. Due to the richness of these areas in marble and stone, almost all structures were made from these reliable materials. The Florentine style was largely the heir to Roman architecture, and cathedrals were often decorated in an antique style.

As for Rome itself and southern Italy, these areas practically did not play a role in the formation of Romanesque architecture.

Normandy architecture

After the adoption of Christianity, the Church established clear requirements for the construction of temples and cathedrals that embodied Romanesque art. The Romanesque style, characterized by the cumbersome structures, not accustomed to the excesses and impracticality of the Vikings, sought to reduce to the necessary minimum. The builders immediately rejected the massive cylindrical vaults, preferring the rafter floors.

A striking example of Romanesque architecture in Normandy are the churches of the abbeys "Sante Trinité" (convent) and "Santa Etienne" (male). At the same time, Trinity Church (11th century) is considered the first building in Europe where a two-span cross vault was designed and installed.

The greatest merit of the Norman school is that, in accordance with the centuries-old traditions and experience of frame structure, it creatively rethought the borrowed structures and schemes of structures.

Romanesque architecture of England

After the Normans conquered England, they changed their policy style to a constructive one. And as a sign of political and cultural unity, they came up with two types of buildings: a castle and a church.

Romanesque architecture was quickly adopted by the British and accelerated building activity in the country. The first building to be built was Westminster Abbey. This structure included the middle cross tower, twin towers to the west, and three eastern apses.

The 11th century for England was marked by the construction of many church buildings, among which there are Winchester, Canterbury cathedrals, the Abbey of St. Edmond and many other buildings in the Romanesque style. Many of these buildings were later reconstructed and altered, but from the surviving documents and the remains of ancient structures, one can imagine the impressive monumentality and appearance of the buildings.

The Normans proved to be skillful builders of castles and fortresses, and the Tower is one of the clearest proofs of this. This fortification, built on the orders of Wilhelm, was the most impressive structure of that era. Subsequently, such a combination of a residential building and a defensive fortification became widespread in Europe.

The Romanesque style in England is usually called Norman due to the fact that the construction was carried out by the Vikings, realizing their architectural designs. But gradually the orientation of the created structures towards defense and strengthening was replaced by the desire for decoration and luxury. And by the end of the XII century. the Romanesque style gave way to the Gothic.

Romanesque architecture of Belarus

The Romanesque style in the architecture of Belarus emerged after the adoption of Christianity, when Byzantine architects began to build churches in accordance with the European tradition.

Since the XI century. towers, castles, temples, monasteries, city houses, made in the style we are considering, began to appear in the country. These buildings were notable for their massiveness, monumentality and severity, and were decorated with sculptures and geometric ornaments.

However, to date, very few monuments of Romanesque architecture have survived. This is due to the fact that many buildings were destroyed during frequent wars, or they were reconstructed in subsequent years. So, for example, St. Sophia Cathedral (Polotsk), erected in the middle of the 11th century, has come down to us in a heavily rebuilt form, and it is not possible to determine its original appearance today.

The architecture of Belarus at that time was distinguished by the use of a large number of construction techniques and techniques. The most famous and striking examples are the Cathedral of the Spaso-Euphrosyne Monastery (Polotsk), the Church of the Annunciation (Vitebsk), the Church of Borisoglebskaya (Grodno). These buildings combine the features of Old Russian architecture and the basilica inherent in the Romanesque style.

Thus, already in the XII century. the Romanesque style began to gradually penetrate the Slavic lands and transform the architecture of Belarus.

Conclusion

Thus, the Romanesque style began to emerge in architecture during the Middle Ages (V-X centuries), and it manifested itself in different European countries in different ways, depending on geographical, political and national characteristics. Throughout that era, in parallel, practically without touching, various architectural trends existed and developed, which led to the originality and uniqueness of structures in various European countries.

During the Middle Ages, the Romanesque style had a great influence on the formation of monastic complexes, which included a temple, hospitals, refectories, libraries, bakeries and many other buildings. In turn, these complexes influenced the structure and location of urban buildings. But the immediate development of city fortifications began in the subsequent period, when the Gothic style already reigned.