Medieval architecture comprises more than the traditional image of Gothic cathedrals and the castles of chivalry. A great variety of buildings - synagogues, halls, and barns - testifies to the diverse communities and interests in western Europe in the centuries between 1150 and 1550.

This book looks at their architecture from an entirely fresh perspective. It shifts the emphasis away from such areas as France towards the creativity of other regions, including central Europe and Spain. It treats the subject thematically, seeking what all buildings, both religious and secular, have in common, and how they reflect the material and spiritual concerns of the people who built and used them. It considers how and why, after four centuries of shaping the landscapes and urban patterns of Europe, medieval styles were superseded by classicism.

Readership: Students, both of art history and history, and the interested general reader.

Nicola Coldstream, Independent scholar

"a beatifully written survey" - Contemporary Review July 2002

I
Introduction
1: 'What we now vulgarly call the Gothic'
2: Structure and Design
3: Patron and Builder
II
Introduction
4: Architectural Space
5: Symbolic Architecture: Representation and Association
6: Innovation and Commemoration
7: The Future that Arrives
Notes
Further Reading
Timeline
Museums and Websites
List of Illustrations
Index