They soar impossibly skyward, their spires pierce clouds, and their stained glass transforms sunlight into kaleidoscopes of color. Gothic cathedrals represent medieval architecture's greatest ...

(What is "Gothic"? It’s more complicated than you think.) While it is certainly true that a deep spiritual fervor inspired such projects, Gothic cathedrals were created by more mundane forces too.

Recognizable for its pointed arches and rib vaults, Gothic architecture was Europe’s primary building style for cathedrals from the late 12th to the 16th century. It evolved from its heavier, rounder ...

Sacred Architecture. By David Levin; Posted 10.21.10; NOVA; With delicate stone spires and lacy stained-glass windows, Gothic cathedrals are more like sacred sculptures than just buildings.

The designers and builders of Europe's great Gothic cathedrals weren't actually so innovative. Skip to main content. Search Shop Newsletters Renew Give a Gift Subscribe. i Subscribe Give a Gift Renew.

Gothic cathedrals represent medieval architecture's greatest achievements—ambitious monuments where master architects, carpenters, stonemasons, and glassworkers pushed engineering to its limits.