Editing Romanesque architecture (section)

===Buttresses===
Because of the massive nature of Romanesque walls, [[buttress]]es are not a highly significant feature, as they are in Gothic architecture. Romanesque buttresses are generally of flat square profile and do not project a great deal beyond the wall. In the case of aisled churches, barrel vaults, or half-barrel vaults over the aisles helped to buttress the nave, if it was vaulted.

In the cases where half-barrel vaults were used, they effectively became like [[flying buttress]]es. Often aisles extended through two storeys, rather than the one usual in Gothic architecture, so as to better support the weight of a vaulted nave. In the case of Durham Cathedral, flying buttresses have been employed, but are hidden inside the triforium gallery.<ref name=ACT/>

<gallery mode="packed" heights="170" widths="220" caption="Walls and buttresses">
File:Abaziasanvittorefrasassi.jpg|alt=A small church sits on a steep rise, surrounded by craggy mountains. It is basically square with three bulging projections and a castle-like tower.|The monastery of [[San Vittore alle Chiuse]], [[Genga, Italy|Genga]], Italy, of undressed stone, has a typically fortress-like appearance with small windows of early Romanesque.
File:Castle-rising-castle.JPG|alt=A large square castle keep of pinkish-grey stone, with a projecting entrance tower, has architectural details to its windows, mouldings and stonework.|[[Castle Rising Castle]], England, shows flat buttresses and reinforcing at the corners of the building typical in both castles and churches.
File:FranceNormandieCerisyLaForetAbbaye.jpg|alt= A tall church of grey stone with fine details and a crossing tower topped with a slate-covered spire rises out of rural countryside, where two mares are grazing.|[[Cerisy Abbey]], [[Normandy]], France, has a compact appearance with aisles rising through two storeys buttressing the vault.
File:StAlbansCathedral-PS01.JPG|alt=A long, low cathedral has a fine Norman brick crossing-tower rising in three stages of round-topped paired windows. The rest of the building is a conglomeration of styles in ancient brick, modern brick, ashlar and flint.|[[St Albans Cathedral]] England, demonstrates the typical alterations made to the fabric of many Romanesque buildings in different styles and materials 
</gallery>