The Gothic style is one of the world’s most important architectural movements. The style survived as evident in some of Europe’s unique buildings.
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The origins
Gothic architecture or opus francigenum was seen negatively, something for barbars. But in the 19th century, a revaluation of Gothic took place. The scholars have understood that Gothic art is not related to Goths, but still is a standard in art history. Gothic architecture is important all over Europe in the Middle Ages. It is important to say that this style derives from Romanesque.
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Main Features
This style gives importance to rib vaults and flying buttress outside the building, to support the roof. This gave height to the structure and space for windows. It also featured stained glasses, and rose windows, to bring light and color. Realistic statuary on the exterior was made to illustrate biblical stories. Romanesque architecture may have influenced this new style characterized by way more light and height.
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The first important gothic church is considered to be the Basilica of Saint-Denis, near Paris, whose choir was rebuilt with Gothic rib vaults and huge stained glass windows.
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Early Gothic
This first style was born in 1120. A coherent style of architecture spread first in the Ile-de-France whose rich citizens wanted the building of cathedrals that now epitomize Gothic architecture. Cathedrals similar to Saint-Denis soon appeared: Notre-Dame de Paris and Laon Cathedral. Buildings built in this era are based on projects tested in Saint-Denis as in the Cathedral of Sens.
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High Gothic
Notre Dame is important for the transition to the Gothic classic in the thirteenth century. This phase has seen the application of elaborate geometrical decoration to the forms that had been used before. After 1250, gothic architects became interested in visual effects through decoration. This decoration took many forms as pinnacles, moldings, window tracery, and, most of all, the great circular rose.
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Late Gothic
A new style of Gothic design can be distinguished from 1280 on. It was named Flamboyant Gothic architecture that featured flame-like shaped curves in stone windows. Historical examples of this are the Palace of the Parliament of Rouen, the Sainte-Chapelle of the Château de Vincennes, and the Church Saint- Maclou of Rouen.
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Info source: https://www.britannica.com/art/Gothic-architecture
