Editing Gothic architecture (section)

== Elements of Romanesque and Gothic architecture compared ==
{| class="wikitable sortable" 
!#
!Structural element
!Romanesque
!Gothic
! class="unsortable" |Developments
|- 
| 1
| Arches
| Round
| Pointed
| The pointed Gothic arch varied from a very sharp form, to a wide, flattened form.
|-
| 2
| Vaults
| Barrel or groin
| Ribbed
| Ribbed vaults appeared in the Romanesque era and were elaborated in the Gothic era.
|- 
| 3
| Walls
| Thick, with small openings
| Thinner, with large openings
| Wall structure diminshed during the Gothic era to a framework of mullions supporting windows.
|-
| 4
| Buttresses
| Wall buttresses of low projection.
| Wall buttresses of high projection, and flying buttresses
| Complex Gothic buttresses supported the high vaults and the walls pierced with windows
|- 
| 5
| Windows
| Round arches, sometimes paired
| Pointed arches, often with tracery
| Gothic windows varied from simple lancet form to ornate flamboyant patterns
|-
| 6
| Piers and columns
| Cylindrical columns, rectangular piers
| Cylindrical and clustered columns, complex piers
| Columns and piers developed increasing complexity during the Gothic era
|- 
| 7
| Gallery arcades
| Two openings under an arch, paired.
| Two pointed openings under a pointed arch
| The Gothic gallery became increasingly complex and unified with the clerestory
|- 
|}
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<!---Needs icorporating- The first cathedral in France built entirely in the new style was [[Sens Cathedral]], begun between 1135 and 1140 and consecrated in 1160.{{sfn|Mignon|2015|pp=10–11}}<ref>''Le Guide du Patrimoine de France'' (2002) pg. 53</ref> Sens Cathedral features a Gothic choir, and six-part rib vaults over the nave and collateral aisles, alternating pillars and doubled columns to support the vaults, and buttresses to offset the outward thrust from the vaults. One of the builders who is believed to have worked on Sens Cathedral, [[William of Sens]], later traveled to England and became the architect who, between 1175 and 1180, reconstructed the choir of [[Canterbury Cathedral]] in the new Gothic style.{{sfn|Mignon|2015|pp=10–11}}

Sens was quickly followed by [[Senlis Cathedral]] (begun 1160), and the most prominent of all, [[Notre-Dame Cathedral]] in Paris (begun 1160). Their builders abandoned the traditional plans and introduced the new Gothic elements. The builders of Notre Dame went further by introducing the flying buttress, heavy columns of support outside the walls connected by arches to the walls, which received and counterbalanced the thrust from the rib vaults of the roof. This allowed the builders to construct higher walls and larger windows.{{sfn|Renault|Lazé|2006|p=36}} --->