Romanesque architecture emerged from the construction of churches, monasteries and cathedrals in the 11th century. This art form is characterized by three-dimensional facades, rounded arches and semicircular stone vaults. The origins of Romanesque architecture can be traced to the rise of Christianity and its spread across Europe.

Romanesque art was popular between approximately AD 1000 and AD 1200 and was used in the construction of religious structures. During that time, many churches were built in a romanesque style. It was a combination of Roman and Gothic elements, but didn’t have the pointed arches that later became common in gothic architecture.

Romanesque churches show an enormous variety of forms, though they are usually massive and rectangular in shape with thick walls and few windows. The vaulted roofs are supported by thick walls or pillars made of stone or brick. During this period, sculptors began to use a more naturalistic style for their work than had been common previously.

Romanesque art fell out of style after the rise of Gothic art during the 12th century, although some artists continued to create romanesque works until about AD 1300.

The Romanesque period was a time of great growth in the church. With new territories being conquered, the church saw a tremendous growth in its membership. Ecclesiastical architecture began to change and grow as well.

As the Roman Empire was falling apart, new churches were being built with the old Roman architectural principles. The basilica style began to be used for churches that were larger than anything seen before. These churches needed more decorative elements to help them stand out from the background buildings.**

**The decorative elements used by architects during this period are referred to as romanesque style.**

Romanesque is characterized by having lots of arches, tracery and other decorative elements. The decoration of these buildings were often embellished with carvings of animals, people, plants and other patterns. The buildings were also made grander by using large columns and thick walls to accentuate the size of the building.*

Romanesque architecture reached its apex in 1140 when it started to decline.* Many architects moved away from using romanesque style and began using gothic style as their primary architectural language.*  With this shift came many changes in design, such as moving away from round arches and columns toward pointed ones.*  There was a shift in

I have to warn you from the very beginning that I am not a professional. I have no academic background in art history and I am not an art critic.

I just love medieval art and I think that one of my biggest passions is finding new things about this wonderful epoch.

So, I decided to start a blog where I will share with you all the things that I’ve learned about Romanesque architecture.

Everything that you are going to read is based on my passion for learning about medieval art, its style and characteristics. So, if you like what you are going to read, please let me know in the comments section. And if you want to share your knowledge, please feel free to contact me!

I hope that this blog will help you learn more about Romanesque art and architecture and that everyday it will inspire you in your own life.””

The Romanesque period lasted from about 1000 to 1200, and came after the Gothic period. As was the case with the Gothic period, Romanesque architecture is characterized by heavy use of stone and a highly ornamented style.

The term Romanesque is derived from the word Roman. The term was coined in Renaissance times to describe the architecture that was being built in Europe at that time. The style is actually a combination of two different kinds of architecture: Roman and Byzantine.

The history of Romanesque architecture is complex; it began as an outgrowth of the Frankish Empire, and then spread westward into parts of Spain and Italy. This style also spread north into England, where it took on its own unique characteristics.

The first Romanesque buildings were begun just after the year 1000. This new style was different from any that had come before. The churches were built on a new scale, with bigger windows and wider doorways. The walls were thicker and taller than ever, with fewer supporting pillars inside.

The Romanesque style originated in France during the 10th century, and spread quickly to Germany, Switzerland and Italy. But it didn’t really come into its own until the 11th century. It was then that the earliest surviving examples of Romanesque architecture were built – including some of the most famous cathedrals in Europe: Chartres Cathedral in Northern France, Reims Cathedral in Northern France, Notre Dame de Paris in Western France and Saint-Denis Basilica in Paris.

New construction in the style continued until about 1200, although many of the most important building projects began later than that. The style was widely used for small churches as well as large ones, but it also made an appearance in parts of houses built for nobility – like the nave of Durham Cathedral.

The Romanesque style of architecture, that was most popular in Western Europe from approximately 1000 to 1200 CE, is defined by heavy masonry, round-headed arches, and the use of ribbed vaulting. It was an architectural style based on new technologies and the aesthetics of early Christianity. The Latin word romanica referred to the language of the Romans – Latin. A large number of Romanesque buildings are still standing all over Europe.

Romanesque architecture is named for the Roman Empire and was used during the period of the late Roman Empire (which existed from 27 B.C. to 476 A.D.) through the first century or so of the Middle Ages.

Romanesque architecture had its roots in the Roman building techniques and styles that were used in construction during that empire, but it was modified by the European cultures that adopted it.

Romanesque churches were built with arches and vaults that became progressively more elaborate, culminating in grand cathedrals such as Notre Dame in Paris and Chartres in France. This style of architecture later spread to Spain and Portugal, where it developed into a form called “Mudéjar,” which is characterized by its Moorish influences.