Why were the Romanesque churches built in the form of a Latin cross?

The basilica style church could not hold the large crowds which were coming. They began to build churches in the shape of the Latin cross. The pilgrim would enter the church through the nave. The more famous the relics a church held, the larger the crowds it would attract.

What makes Romanesque architecture unique?

Romanesque architecture is characterized by towering round arches, massive stone and brickwork, small windows, thick walls, and a propensity for housing art and sculpture depicting biblical scenes.

Why did the walls of Romanesque churches have to be so thick?

Romanesque buildings were made of stone. European architects were not very good at building stone roofs yet. If they did have stone roofs, the walls had to be very thick in order to hold up the roofs, and there couldn’t be very many windows either. So Romanesque buildings were often very heavy and dark inside.

Why is it called Romanesque style of architecture?

The name gives it away–Romanesque architecture is based on Roman architectural elements. It is the rounded Roman arch that is the literal basis for structures built in this style.

What was the main function of the Romanesque churches?

The first consistent style was called Romanesque, which was at its peak between 1050 and 1200. Romanesque churches used art, largely painting and sculpture, to communicate important things. For one, art was used as visual reminders of biblical stories, which helped teach the faith to an illiterate population.

What are the main features of Romanesque pilgrimage churches?

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 are characteristics of Romanesque churches?

Why were Romanesque churches so much larger than ones from previous periods?

Their churches had to be larger than previous ones in order to accommodate increased numbers of priests and monks and allow access to pilgrims who wished to view the saints’ relics kept in the churches.

What was the Romanesque style of cathedral 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.

Why the church is described as a pilgrim church?

Summary. The council recovered a more eschatological understanding of the church as a pilgrim people.

What is the purpose of an ambulatory in a pilgrimage church?

There is an ambulatory around the apse and radiating chapels for the pilgrims to see relics as they moved around the church, a very important part of the pilgrimage experience.

What shape were Romanesque churches?

Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of medieval Europe characterized by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque style, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 11th century, this later date being the most commonly held.