COUTANCES CATHEDRAL

COUTANCES CATHEDRAL IS A GOTHIC CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL CONSTRACTED FROM 1210 TO 1274 IN THE
TOWN OF COUNTANCES, NORMANDY, FRANCE. IT INCORPORATED THE REMAINS OF AN EARLIER NORMAN
CATHEDRAL. IT IS THE SEAT OF THE BISHOP OF COUTANCES AND AVRANCHES AND WAS PREVIOSLY THAT OF
THE BISHOP COUNTANCES.

THE ENTRANCE

THE CHOIR AND ITS

AMBULATORIES
THERE IS A INNOVATION
RIPON CATHEDRAL

MEDIVAL MISERICORD
OF A MERMAID
Medieval mermaids are a long way from
Ariel in the Hans Christian Anderson’s tale
of the Little Mermaid.  There’s quite a sting
in the tail. Mermaids feature in medieval
church decoration, often on capitals and
misericords.

THE CROSSING TOWER

CEILING
 the crossing gives access to the nave on
the west, the transept arms on the north
and south, and the choir, as the first part of
the chancel, on the east. The crossing is
sometimes surmounted by a tower or dome
 XSIENA CATHEDRAL
(ITALIAN GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE)

ACANTHUS LEAVES
DECORATED THE COLUMN
SHAFT
The column capitals are
a variation on the
Corinthian order,
incorporating not only
classical acanthus
leaves but also thistles
and native American
tobacco plants.

WINGED LION
This mythological symbol features
a lion with wings like a bird. Aside
from being a traditional symbol of
Venice, the winged lion meaning
also represents wisdom,
knowledge and a sword that
represents the universal symbol of
justice.
SEVILLE CATHEDRAL
(SPANISH GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE)

GARGOYLE
a grotesque carved human
or animal face or
figure projecting from
the gutter of a building,
typically acting as a spout to
carry water clear of a wall.

Giralda tower1
 ULM CATHEDRAL
(GERMAN GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE)

"Ulmer Spatz": the original

of 1858 by the cathedral
roof is now in the Ulmer
Münster near the entrance
in a display case.

FLAMBOYANT
FLORENCE CATHEDRAL
(FLORENTINE RENAISSANCE ARCHITECTURE)

The lantern is a white marble tower,

21 metres (68.9 feet) in height,
whose weight counterbalances the
thrust forces of the internal dome,
exactly as planned by Brunelleschi.

The golden ball of Santa Maria

del Fiore Cathedral was built
by Andrea del Verrocchio in
1468. Placed on the Cathedral
on 27th of May in 1471, the
ball immediately became a
symbol for Florence citizens.
 II REDENTORE
(VENITIAN RENAISSANCE ARCHITECTURE)

Corinthian order
 PENSHURST
(ENGLISH RENAISSANCE ARCHITECTURE)

A quatrefoil is a decorative
element consisting of a
symmetrical shape which
forms the overall outline of
four partially overlapping
circles of the same diameter.
It is found in art, architecture,
heraldry and traditional
Christian symbolism. 

A hammerbeam roof is a
decorative, open timber roof
truss typical of English Gothic
architecture and has been
called "...the most spectacular
endeavour of the English
Medieval carpenter". 
CHATEAU DE MAISON
(FRENCH RENAISSANCE ARCHITECTURE)
THE TEMPIETTO
(ROMAN RENAISSANCE ARCHITECTURE)