Today, the great cathedrals of Europe stand as beautiful, imposing monuments – the pride of parishioners and the wonder of tourists. It is difficult for us now, even with all our engineering and architectural skills, to imagine the extraordinary ways these medieval houses of worship were constructed.Midway through the twelfth century, the building of cathedrals became a crusade to erect … erect awe-inspiring churches across Europe. In their zeal, bishops, monks, masons, and workmen created the architectural style known as Gothic, arguably Christianity’s greatest contribution to the world’s art and architecture. The style evolved slowly and almost accidentally as medieval artisans combined ingenuity, inspiration, and brute strength to create a fitting monument to their God.
Here are the dramatic stories of the building of Saint-Denis, Notre Dame, Chartres, Reims, and other Gothic cathedrals.
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Interesting historical background for these remarkable buildings, but a total absence of engineering and construction details. How the heck did they do so incredibly well at stress analysis? Buildings today won’t last 1000 years or even 100.
I gues this is a well-researched book but it was too in-depth for what I wanted. Nevertheless, interesting and I read it to the end.
Excellent book about the Gothic Cathedrals built in the Middle Ages. Book gives a great description of the design and the various trades that went into the building of these architectural wonders, most of which still stand today. Highly recommend the book for anyone planning to go to France or many of the other European locations where the Gothic cathedrals remain. If Europe is unavailable, two cathedrals in the US are St. John the Divine in New York City and the Washington Cathedral in DC. There are also several in Canada. Besides those around Paris, there are several in Spain that are unique with their combination of Islam and Christianity.
Boring
Highlights the evolution of Gothic architecture and the tandem development of the mason guilds and culture. It is a short read so again, focused on several notable cathedrals and the politic and religious climate surrounding their construction. The descriptions of the architectural advances are good, but more pictures would have been very useful.
Made me want to visit those amazing buildings
i now live in France, and have seen most of these great cathedrals in the past 6 months–how fascinating to read HOW they were built, and by whom! Very informative, but also very easy to read
Fascinating study of the Gothic Cathedral-building era. The title may seem a bit misleading, as the author focuses more on the cultural than the technical aspects.
This was a good overview.
This book reinforced my memories of places I have seen/visited and gave me a new perspective on what I experienced. It is well written and organized in a way that a non-expert in art or architecture and engineering can easily follow. It helps dispel myths and stereotypes. I highly recommend it to anyone who is planning to visit Europe or who wants to appreciate the middle ages.
Having been educated as an architect and practiced architecture for most of my 40 year career, I found the walk back in time to be a great reminder of how fantastic some of these early gothic achievements really were. After finishing the book, I went back to some of my old history reference volumes and reread in more detail about many of the specific cathedrals discussed including some that I have visited. Great book for anyone with a history passion.
The major Gothic cathedrals of Europe may become, even for those who live near them, background to the other wonders of their cities. Author David Jacobs has brought the cathedrals, and those who conceived, designed and built them, into the foreground, with this intriguing story of why they were built, how, and by whom. The view into the religious – and political – values and dreams of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Those readers interested in history, politics, architecture, and engineering, and in the intersection of these disciplines, will very much enjoy this book.