The Beginnings of Gothic Architecture in Languedoc

Abstract

Two forms of Gothic architecture developed in the Languedoc region of south central France: one rib-vaulted, the other covered with diaphragm arches directly supporting a wooden roof. The relationship between these two Gothic forms and the preexisting aesthetic and constructional traditions has never been clearly established, nor have the factors that prompted the shift from Romanesque to Gothic been adequately investigated. This article analyzes these issues from the point of view of traditions and events in Languedoc and explains why the two variants of the Languedocien nef unique may be called Gothic.

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Vivian Paul

Vivian Paul's primary area of interest has been the Gothic architecture of Languedoc, and more recently the relationship between medieval technology and architectural design. She is currently completing a monographic study of the cathedral of Narbonne. [Department of Architecture, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843]