Romanesque Architecture – An Ultimate Guide with Important Features and 7 Examples

The Romanesque style of architecture spread across Europe at the same time, with each region adding its unique characteristics. It was mainly used in the design of churches. “Romanesque” means “descended from Roman.”It was the first style to spread across the whole of Europe from Sicily to Scandinavia.

What is Romanesque Architecture

Romanesque architecture is an architectural style that emerged in Europe during the late 10th century and flourished during the 11th and 12th centuries. It is characterized by a revival of Roman architectural elements, hence the term “Romanesque.” This style developed in the medieval period as a response to the needs of the growing Christian Church and the desire to create monumental and durable buildings.

Span of Romanesque Architecture

11-12th centuries

Romanesque architecture spanned roughly from the late 10th century to the early or mid-12th century (1000-1150)

History of Romanesque Architecture

A large number of monks and monasteries existed during the Middle Ages giving importance to monasticism. Many of the Romanesque churches used to be monastery churches surrounded by beautiful countryside. Monasteries devoted themselves to rural surroundings. Churches were not built just to hold services; they went far beyond the purpose, they were –

• Architectural display of imperial power.
• An architectural embodiment of the idea of the Roman Empire.
• Important on a political level, as they demonstrated the rank of their builders.
• Magnificent structures as a demonstration of the power of the emperor.
• Representation of symbolical and sociological aspects.

Architectural Features of Romanesque Architecture

Romanesque cathedrals and basilicas were massive building structures with large towers, smaller windows, sturdy pillars, vaults, round arches, and decorative arcades. Clear-defined forms and symmetrical plans with a simple appearance define this style that combines Roman and Byzantine building styles.

• Harmonious Proportions
• Round Arches supporting the roof.
• Decorative arches for the facade
• Stone Vaults – Barrel, Groin, and Ribbed Vaults
• Thick and heavy Walls
• Small windows
• Relief Sculpture

Walls

Piers and Capitals

Columns

Arches and Openings

Doors – Entrances ways

Arcades

Vaults

Barrel Vault

A Barrel vault is a simple type of vaulted roof that requires the support of solid walls. The pilasters that are attached to the front of the aisle columns are continued in the vault by transverse arches. Mainly used to cover the central Nave.

Groin Vault

Groins result from the intersection of the transept and the nave. Also, the intersection of two barrel vaults at right angles above the square results in the formation of arched diagonals or groins. The vault is a structural member itself. It is common in Aisles and Ambulatory.

Ribbed Vault

Ribs (little arch frames) span the vaulted area transversely and each vaulted bay has diagonal ribs similar to a groin vault. Here, the ribs are structural members, unlike the vault which is a structural member in the groin vault.

Domes

In Romanesque architecture, domes are present at the intersection of the nave and transept. Octagonal in plan, the domes resting on squinches and Pendentives are one of the features of Romanesque architecture.

Construction Work

There was a shift in the way buildings were constructed. Significant changes in the construction of buildings of Romanesque Architecture were:

• The principle of equilibrium replaced the Roman principle of inert stability.
• Dressed stonework in smaller pieces connected with thick mortar beds was used.

Buildings of Romanesque architecture were built with stone and had wooden roofs.

Foundations – In the earlier constructions, foundations were laid- on damp ground or unstable ground. Later the problems related to poor foundation soils were discussed and solved as much as possible.

Building materials – They were transported from different parts of the city. As an example; marble and limestone to build Lyons Cathedral were transported from Trajan’s Forum. Classical buildings in general were popular sources of stones.

Vaults – The Roman system of plain cross vaulting was used in Europe until the twelfth century. It was then gradually replaced by a new method called “groin-rib” vaulting. This new method involved using ribs to support thinner stone vaulting surfaces known as “severies” or “in-filling.” In the Roman system, the vaulting surface was designed first and then the groins were added. However, in the new method, the groins were designed first and the vaulting surfaces were adapted to them.

The Romanesque architects had to figure out the shape of the ribs, especially the diagonal rib, which was determined by the intersection of the two vaulting surfaces meeting at right angles. If the vaulting surfaces were semi-cylindrical, the diagonal groin would be a semi-ellipse.

Human power – Bricklayers, stone masons, sculptors, mortar stirrers, plasterers, whitewashers, carpenters, laborers, and handymen.

Sitework – At the beginning of the twentieth century, wooden scaffolding was used.

Before that, cantilever scaffolding was used. At each stage of work, a level working area was created at the wall coping. The scaffolding was removed and attached to the wall higher, once the wall had been built. Materials were moved up using ramps and transported using baskets, stretchers, and strips.

Architecture and Building Types of Romanesque Architecture

There were main three types of architectonic typologies related to Romanesque architecture – Churches, Monasteries, and Castles.

Churches/Cathedrals/Monasteries

Castles

Early Castle Architecture

During the time of Charlemagne, the castle started as a motte and then became a motte and bailey. A wooden tower was built on top of the motte for safety and as the lord’s residence. The bailey, at the base of the motte, housed storage buildings, workshops, and houses made of wood, protected by a wooden fence. This area might have also been defended by a surrounding ditch, either dry or filled with water.

Churches of Romanesque Architecture

Building Components of Churches

Central Nave

The walls of the Nave were mostly built as a multistorey system. One or two levels of Triforium levels and a clerestory were constructed above the Arcades. Each bay of the arcade comprises one or two arches. Each Bay has its own vault and the thrust is carried down by pillars. There were also different types –

• Single-tier construction
  • The walls of the Nave were simple and had only arcades and columns without any clerestory and Triforium.
• Double-tier construction
  • Wall construction consists of two stages – Arcades and Clerestory
  • Columns articulate the hall space.
• Three-tier construction
  • This type of construction was seen in large cathedrals. Arcades, Triforiums, and Clerestory adorn the walls of the Nave.
• Four-tier constrcution
  • It is layered from bottom to top as follows – arcades, galleries, blind triforium, and clerestory.

Choir and Crypt

Originally in the churches, the choir was simple and considered the singing place to take place. Later, it was extended by the chancel square and apse. In the thirteenth century, a choir screen was added which served as a border between the monks and the lay church. It also serves as a platform for singers. The size of the choir was dictated by the width and height dimensions of the nave.

Crypt was originally the place where a martyr was laid to rest. Later on, the crypt served as the last resting place for dignitaries. It was accessed by a tunnel crypt with individual chambers. Above the crypt, the east choir was constructed, and later the church.

Facades of Churches/Cathedrals

Romanesque church facades are mostly to the west and are symmetrical. They have a significant central portal adorned with sculptural moldings or a porch and arched-topped windows above it. Romanesque churches are mainly distinguished by their fortified appearance of massive structures with round arches, massive porches with towers, and smaller window openings. The fortified porches were meant to defend the church against evil powers.

West Front with No towers

Smaller churches usually have no towers or a single small tower placed centrally. It is articulated by structural devices – pilasters, lesenes, pillars, and ornamental sculptures.

West Front with two Flanking Towers

West front/facades with two flanking towers are most common in Romanesque architecture. It is commonly seen in northern and western Europe. It is considered a symbolic reference to the gateway of the heavenly Jerusalem.

The façade flanked by two tall towers each with buttresses and three portals stands as an architectural model for the facades of later years.

Church of Saint-Étienne, Southwell Cathedral, and Limburg Cathedral are fine examples.

West Front with Three Towers

The façade consists of a central part with an atrium and a multistorey upper church and is connected by side wings, galleries, and flanking towers.

Examples of Churches/Cathedrals

Monastery Church of Saint Michael (1022)

• Building: Monastery Church of Saint Michael
• Location: Hildesheim, Germany
• Date of construction: 993-1022

Located in Hildesheim, Germany, the Monastery of Saint Michael is an early Romanesque architecture-style church and is known for its massiveness and sense of security. Its walls were as thick as five feet and had small windows at ground level. Even though it was severely damaged during the Second World War, it was restored and in 1985, it became a UNESCO Heritage site.

Adhering to the typical Basilican plan, the church’s architectural layout includes a double choir basilica, two transepts, and a square tower at each crossing. The Eastern transept, with a small apse, flanks the central transept, while the western transept connects to a large chapel-like apse. And the altar placed in the western transept acts as a focal point.

As it was built in the early medieval period, it had flat ceilings fastened to large wooden roof trusses, unlike the roof vaults that were a characteristic feature of Romanesque architecture.

Pisa Cathedral (1063-1092)

• Building: Pisa Cathedral
• Location: Pisa, Italy
• Date of construction: 1063-1092
• Architect: Buscheto and Rainaldo

Pisa Cathedral is a well-known example of a Roman Catholic Cathedral, located in the city of Pisa, Italy, and built-in Romanesque architectural style. It is a part of the Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles), a UNESCO World Heritage Site that also includes the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa. The original building plan was a Greek cross with a large dome at the center, but now it is a Latin cross with a main aisle in the middle and two smaller aisles on each side. The apse and transepts have three aisles.

The cathedral was constructed primarily in the Pisan Romanesque style, characterized by a white and colored marble facade, decorated with colored marble inserts, semicircular arches, and decorative cladding. Its exterior is adorned with high arches, multicolored marble, mosaic, bronze objects, doorways, and loggias. Equally impressive, the interior of the cathedral is housed by numerous works of art, including paintings, sculptures, and intricate pulpit by Giovanni Pisano.

Church of St. Trophime (12th century)

• Building: Church of St. Trophime
• Location: Arles, France
• Date of construction: 12th century

The Church of St. Trophime is located in the heart of the historic center of Arles, a city in the Provence region of southern France. Arles itself is known for its well-preserved Romanesque architecture and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The western portal of Saint Trophime’s facade in Arles is renowned for intricate Romanesque sculpture. It is one of the most richly decorated with figurative sculptures, particularly, the central theme is the expectation of salvation associated with the last judgment, where Christ in Majesty is surrounded by scenes of the resurrection and the damned. In addition, the lintels and jambs are adorned with biblical scenes and figures.

Lund Cathedral (1103 – 1145)

• Building: Lund Cathedral
• Location: Lund, Scania, Sweden
• Date of construction: 1103 – 1145
• Architect: Donatus, Adam van Duren, Carl Georg Brunius, Helgo Zetterall

Located in the city of Lund in Scania, Sweden, Lund Cathedral is one of the most impressive churches of Romanesque architecture built with sandstone. The cathedral has a cruciform form plan with a central nave, transept, and a coir. Its Latin cross plan rises into a symmetrical facade with two towers on either side of the central entrance portal. With a pyramidal roof above, these towers exhibit Romanesque window features along with blind arcades and round arches. The eastern part of the cathedral features a Gothic choir, known for its tall and elegant windows. The choir is adorned with sculptures and intricate details.

Modena Cathedral (1099 -1184)

• Building: Modena Cathedral
• Location: Modena, Italy
• Date of construction: 1099 – 1184
• Architect: Lanfranco, Anselmo da Campione

The Modena Cathedral, located in Modena, Italy is a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture and is considered one of the most important examples of this style in Italy. It is renowned for its harmonious proportions (the facade’s height is the same as its width) and rich sculptural decorations. Adjacent to the cathedral is the Ghirlandina Tower, a freestanding bell tower over 80 meters tall and is a symbol of the city.

The cathedral features a Latin cross plan with a nave and two side aisles. Positioned along the west-east axis in the traditional manner, the cathedral’s entrance portal, accompanied by two sculpted lions, entices visitors to explore the interiors. This arched portal forms a focal point of the exterior, which features multiple loggias. Along with a notable rose window and arcades, the facade is adorned with intricate sculptures, including biblical scenes, saints, and symbolic motifs.

Maria Laach Abbey (11th and 12th Centuries)

• Building: Maria Laach Abbey
• Location: Andernach, Germany
• Date of construction: 11th and 12th centuries

The abbey church, dedicated to St. Mary and St. Nicholas, was built in the Romanesque architecture style during the 12th century. Over the centuries, the abbey underwent modifications and additions, including Gothic elements in the 13th century. It is an impressive Romanesque basilica with three naves, a transept, and an apse.

With a grand total of six towering structures, this abbey church possesses a commanding and imposing aura. Situated within the monumental entrance facade facing west, there is a single-story porch that encompasses a charming courtyard featuring a series of graceful rounded arches. Maria Laach Abbey is renowned for its artistic treasures, including medieval sculptures, frescoes, and stained glass windows. The interior of the church is adorned with religious artwork, reflecting the creativity and craftsmanship of the medieval period.

Examples of Castles

Krak des Chevaliers (1142-1170)

Krak des Chevaliers is a famous medieval castle located in Syria and built during the medieval era of Romanesque architecture. It is situated near the town of Homs, and is strategically positioned on a hilltop in the Homs Gap, a major route between the Mediterranean coast and the Syrian interior. Originally built in the 11th century, it was fortified and expanded over centuries.

It is a massive fortress with thick defensive walls, towers, and a large inner courtyard. The concentric design and advanced defensive features were innovative for its time.

Interiors of Romanesque Architecture

In Romanesque architecture, the interior walls were plastered and painted and often faced with marble. Wooden ceilings were decorated. Stone was a material commonly used for the construction of buildings and decorations with ornate capitals, and moldings. Mosaics, murals, and carved figures were features of interior decorations.

Arcades were most common in interior churches. In Italy, marble columns with Capital, Base, and Abacus were widespread across the country.

The internal roofs were of different types and materials. Timber roofs and wooden ceilings were most prevalent in smaller churches, whereas, larger churches featured roofs from simple barrel vaults and groin vaults to ribbed vaults. The series of domes was also an interesting feature of the roofs of Romanesque architecture.

Conclusion

Romanesque architecture, with its rounded arches, thick walls, and impressive decorative elements, remains a compelling chapter in the history of European architecture. Emerging from the tumultuous medieval period, this style not only addressed the practical needs of the time but also reflected the spiritual and cultural aspirations of a society in transformation. From the towering cathedrals to the humble parish churches, Romanesque structures continue to tell the story of a bygone era, inviting us to appreciate the creativity and enduring legacy of medieval builders.