Editing Gothic architecture (section)

==Plans==
[[File:Cathedral schematic plan en vectorial.svg|thumb|right|upright=1.2|Plan of a Gothic cathedral]]
The plan of Gothic cathedrals and churches was usually based on the [[Latin cross]] (or "cruciform") plan, taken from the ancient Roman [[Basilica]],{{Sfn|Renault|Lazé|2006|p=24}} and from the later [[Romanesque (architecture)|Romanesque]] churches. They have a long nave making the body of the church, where the parishioners worshipped; a transverse arm called the [[transept]] and, beyond it to the east, the [[Choir (architecture)|choir]], also known as a chancel or presbytery, that was usually reserved for the clergy. The eastern end of the church was rounded in French churches, and was occupied by several radiating chapels, which allowed multiple ceremonies to go on simultaneously. In English churches the eastern end also had chapels, but was usually rectangular. A passage called the [[ambulatory]] circled the choir. This allowed parishioners, and especially pilgrims, to walk past the chapels to see the relics displayed there without disturbing other services going on.{{Sfn|Renault|Lazé|2006|p=31}}

Each vault of the nave formed a separate cell, with its own supporting piers or columns. The early cathedrals, like Notre-Dame, had six-part rib vaults, with alternating columns and piers, while later cathedrals had the simpler and stronger four-part vaults, with identical columns.

Following the model of Romanesque architecture and the [[Basilica of Saint Denis]], cathedrals usually had two towers flanking the west façade. Towers over the crossing were common in England ([[Salisbury Cathedral]]), [[York Minister]]) but rarer in France.{{Sfn|Renault|Lazé|2006|p=31}}

Transepts were usually short in early French Gothic architecture, but became longer and were given large rose windows in the [[Rayonnant]] period.{{Sfn|Ducher|2014|p=42}} The choirs became more important. The choir was often flanked by a double disambulatory, which was crowned by a ring of small chapels.{{Sfn|Ducher|2014|p=42}} In England, transepts were more important, and the floor plans were usually much more complex than in French cathedrals, with the addition of attached [[Lady Chapels]], an octagonal [[Chapter House]], and other structures (See plans of Salisbury Cathedral and York Minster below). This reflected a tendency in France to carry out multiple functions in the same space, while English cathedrals compartmentalized them. This contrast is visible in the difference between [[Amiens Cathedral]], with its minimal transepts and semicircular apse, filled with chapels, on the east end, compared with the double transepts, projecting north porch, and rectangular east end of Salisbury and York.{{Sfn|Watkin|1986|p=147}}

{{multiple image
| align             = centre
| direction         = horizontal
| header_align      = center
| header            = 
| image2            = Plan.redressé.cathedrale.Paris.png
| alt2              = 
| caption2          = [[Notre Dame de Paris]], France, length 128 m.
| width2            = 210
| image3            = Amiens plan vert.png
| width3            = 170
| alt3              = 
| caption3          = [[Amiens Cathedral]], France, length 145 m.
| image4            = Plan.cathedrale.Cologne.png
| width4            = 262
| alt4              = 
| caption4          = [[Cologne Cathedral]], Germany, length 144 m, Its plan was modeled after Amiens Cathedral, but widened
| image5            = Salisbury cathedral plan vert.jpg
| width5            = 170
| alt5              = 
| caption5          = [[Salisbury Cathedral]], England, length 135 m, with a central tower over the crossing
| image6            = YorkMinsterPlanDehio vert.jpg
| width6            = 265
| alt6              = 
| caption6          = [[York Minster]], England, length 159 m, with its attached octagonal [[Chapter House]]
}}

{{clear}}