Editing Romanesque architecture (section)

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{{Short description|Architectural style of Medieval Europe}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox art movement
| name = Romanesque architecture
|image = {{photomontage
|photo1a= LessayAbbaye3.JPG
|photo2a= Collegiate Church in Tum.jpg
|photo3a= Maria Lach 02.jpg
|size = 250
|color_border = #AAAAAA
|color = #F9F9F9
}}
| caption = '''Top:''' [[Lessay Abbey]] in [[Normandy]] (France); '''Middle:''' [[Tum Collegiate Church|Collegiate Church]] in [[Tum, Poland|Tum]] (Poland); '''Bottom:''' [[Maria Laach Abbey]] (Germany)   
| yearsactive = 10th to 13th century 
|country=[[Catholic Church|Catholic]] Europe}}

'''Romanesque architecture'''{{#tag:ref|The style in contemporary [[Latin]] from various times goes by many names, such as e.g. '''Opus Romanum/Romanorum''', '''Architectura Romana/Romanica''', and '''Genere/Ordine Romanico''' (see terms and references on the [[:la:Opus Romanum (medium aevum)|Opus Romanum]] page on [[Latin Wikipedia]]).}} is an [[architectural style]] of [[Middle Ages|medieval Europe]] that was predominant in the 11th and 12th centuries.{{sfn|Oxford University Press|2004}} The style eventually developed into the [[Gothic architecture|Gothic style]] with the shape of the arches providing a simple distinction: the Romanesque is characterized by [[semicircular arch]]es, while the Gothic is marked by the [[pointed arch]]es. The Romanesque emerged nearly simultaneously in multiple countries of Western Europe;{{sfn|Oxford University Press|2004}} its examples can be found across the continent, making it the first pan-European architectural style since [[Roman architecture|Imperial Roman architecture]]. Similarly to Gothic, the name of the style was transferred onto the contemporary [[Romanesque art]].{{sfn|Oxford University Press|2004}}

Combining features of [[Ancient Roman architecture|ancient Roman]] and [[Byzantine architecture|Byzantine]] buildings and other local traditions, Romanesque architecture is known by its massive quality, thick walls, round arches, sturdy [[Pier (architecture)|pillars]], [[barrel vault]]s, large towers and decorative [[Arcade (architecture)|arcading]]. Each building has clearly defined forms, frequently of very regular, [[symmetrical]] plan. The overall appearance is one of simplicity when compared with the [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] buildings that were to follow. The style can be identified right across Europe, despite regional characteristics and different materials.

Many [[castle]]s were built during this period, but they are greatly outnumbered by churches. The most significant are the great [[abbey]] churches, many of which are still standing, more or less complete and frequently in use.<ref name=BF>Bannister Fletcher, ''A History of Architecture on the Comparative Method''.</ref> The enormous quantity of churches built in the Romanesque period was succeeded by the still busier period of Gothic architecture, which partly or entirely rebuilt most Romanesque churches in prosperous areas like England and Portugal. The largest groups of Romanesque survivors are in areas that were less prosperous in subsequent periods, including parts of [[southern France]], rural Spain, rural Portugal and rural Italy. Survivals of unfortified [[Romanesque secular and domestic architecture|Romanesque secular]] houses and palaces, and the domestic quarters of monasteries are far rarer, but these used and adapted the features found in church buildings, on a domestic scale.
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