What is the basic church plan of Romanesque architecture?

Romanesque churches characteristically incorporated semicircular arches for windows, doors, and arcades; barrel or groin vaults to support the roof of the nave; massive piers and walls, with few windows, to contain the outward thrust of the vaults; side aisles with galleries above them; a large tower over the crossing …

What is the hallmark of Romanesque church architecture?

Combining features of ancient Roman and Byzantine buildings and other local traditions, Romanesque architecture is known by its massive quality, thick walls, round arches, sturdy pillars, barrel vaults, large towers and decorative arcading.

Which example is in the Romanesque style?

Other important examples of Romanesque styles include the cathedrals of Worms and Mainz, Limburg Cathedral (in the Rhenish Romanesque style), Maulbronn Abbey (an example of Cistercian architecture), and the famous castle of Wartburg, which was later expanded in the Gothic style.

What architectural element is Romanesque portals?

Romanesque portals function as entrances to church interiors. The doorway, often divided by a pillar known as a trumeau, is flanked by jambs at either side. Above the door are a lintel and a broad, rounded arch. Within this sits the semicircular space called a tympanum.

What did portal sculptures in Romanesque churches represent?

Some Romanesque churches feature an extensive sculptural scheme which covers the area surrounding the portal and sometimes much of the facade. The sculptural schemes were designed to convey the message that Christian believers should recognize wrongdoing, repent, and be redeemed.

What was important from Romanesque?

Romanesque illuminated manuscripts developed alongside murals. But most important was the increased demand from the Cluniac, Cistercian and Benedictine Orders for religious books and Bibles, all of which had to be made by hand. Important illuminated manuscripts included: the Moralia Manuscript (c.

What is a Romanesque portal?

Abstract. Romanesque portals are more than simple reflections of biblical, liturgical, paraliturgical or exegetical texts. They are in themselves texts — performative texts.

What covers a Romanesque nave?

A flat timber roof characteristically covered the nave until the Romanesque and Gothic eras, when stone vaulting became almost universal in the major churches of northern Europe.

What is the basic plan of Romanesque churches?

The basic plan of Romanesque churches derived from the Roman basilica, which was adopted by the early Christian church in Rome. Normally the orientation of the church is such that the altar lies at the east end of the church, facing Jerusalem.

Are any of the Romanesque churches still standing?

Most of the buildings that are still standing are churches, some of which are very large abbey churches and cathedrals. The majority of these are still in use, some of them having been substantially altered over the centuries. This list presents a comparison of Romanesque churches, abbeys and cathedrals of different countries.

Why were there so many Romanesque churches in Germany?

The rich fertile river valleys, particularly those of the Rhine and the Meuse, encouraged the growth of towns. The period dating from the 9th to the 13th century produced Romanesque churches. Several important Early Romanesque churches occur in Saxony at Hildesheim and Gernrode.

What is the origin of Romanesque architecture?

Romanesque Architecture: Background. The word “Romanesque” (coined in 1818, 1819 or 1824 –there is no total agreement– as a bridging term between Roman and Carolingian architecture that preceded “Romanesque,” and Gothic that followed it) embraces architecture, art, and sculpture. ** Not all scholars agree.