Romanesque architecture developed in Western Europe between the 10th and 12th centuries, combining elements of Roman and Byzantine architectural styles. It utilized stone, brick, and other materials from older Roman structures, and featured thick walls, rounded arches, and vaulted ceilings. Churches during this period often followed a Latin cross floor plan and included features like rose windows. Examples of prominent Romanesque buildings include Pisa Cathedral and its leaning bell tower in Italy as well as Notre Dame du Port and Angouleme Cathedral in France.

2. + R o m a n e s q u e A r c h i t e c t u r e
GEOGRAPHICAL INFUENCE
Romanesque Architecture is the combination of Roman
and Byzantine Architecture basically roman in style.
They grew in the countries under the roman rule.
The most common material used for construction were
stone, brick marble or terra cotta, as well as ready-made
columns and features from the old Roman buildings.
INFLUENCING FACTORS
GEOLOGICAL INFLUENCE

3. Southern Portion:
a. Small windows to minimize sun shading.
d. Flat roof
CLIMACTIC INFLUENCE
Northern Portion -- Dull climate contributed to the
use of:
a. Large windows to admit light.
b. high pitch roof to throw off rain and snow
RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE
Christianity resulted into erection of a church.
Papacy had great power and influence.

4. Establishment of “Feudal System”, Landlord built
“castle” to separate them and protect them from the
peasants. This castle was made with man-made
canals.
The style emerging in Western Europe based on
Roman and Byzantine elements last until the
Advent of Gothic Architecture in the Mid-12th
Century.
SOCIAL AND POLITICAL INFLUENCE
HISTORICAL INFLUENCE

5. ARCHITECTURAL
CHARACTER
SOBER & DIGNIFIED
Opposite of Roman character

6. CHARACTERISTIC
FEATURES
Developed in Italy, France, Germany
and England
Uses “Rib & Panel Vaulting”
Two Types of Vaulting:
Quadripartite (four-part vaulting)
Sexpartite (six- part vaulting)
(both were supported by “tiers”)

7. Use of corbelled Arches found underneath the eaves
of a church.
Use of Massive, Architectured wall structures, Round
Arches & Powerful Vaults.
In churches they used Latin Cross Plan
Use of Rose window or Wheel window.

8. EXAMPLE OF BUILDINGS
1. Churches- for every church there is a “Monastery”
at the side.
2. Monastic church situated in a court open to public.
3. Cloister Court
4. Inner Court
5. Common Court

9. DIFFERENT SHAPES OF
CROSS
Crux immissa or Latin cross

10. Cross of Lorraine The papal
cross or ferula is the
pastoral staff used by
the Pope.

11. Stepped Cross
A cross resting on a base with three steps, also called a graded or a
Calvary cross.

12. ARCHITECTURAL
EXAMPLES
PISA CATHEDRAL
I. With Baptistery,
Campanile & Campo
Santo
II. One of the Finest
Romanesque Cathedral
III. Design by Architect
Dioti Alvi

13. CAMPANILLE, PISA
I. Circular Tower
II. Worlds famous
“Leaning Tower”
III. 8 storeys of
encircling archades

14. BAPTISTERIES, PISA
I. Circular in plan

15. CAMPO SANTO, PISA
I. Cemetery

16. FRENCH ROMANESQUE
A R C H I T E C T U R A L E X A M P L E S
NOTRE DAME du PORT
• Light stone
vaults
• inlaid décor

17. ANGOULEME CATHEDRAL

18. S. MADELEINE, Vezelay

19. THE ABBEY CHURCH

20. NOTRE DAME LA GRANDE, France

21. AIX-LA-CHAPELLE
CATHEDRAL
• Built by Emperor
Charlemagne as his
“royal tomb-house”.
• Prototype of similar
churches in Germany
• Place of coronation of
the Holy Roman
Emperors
GERMAN ROMANESQUE

22. THE CHURCH OF THE APOSTLES, COLOGNE

23. ORMS CATHEDRAL
• Typical German Romanesque church
• Remained the seat of Bishops, Archibishops & electors for
1,500 yrs.

24. ROMANESQUE TERMS AND
ILLUSTRATIONS
DORMER WINDOW- a window
placed vertically in a sloping
roof with a roof on its own.

25. GROIN- the curved arris formed
by intersecting vaulting
surfaces.

26. VAULTS- ceiling designs

27. HELM ROOF- a roof in which 4
faces rests diagonally between
the gables and converge at the
roof.