How Were Europe’s Great Churches Built

Photo by Léa V on Unsplash

Europe is dotted with great churches (note that I am using the term “great church” not “cathedral.” These terms are not synonyms. Not all great churches are cathedrals and not all cathedrals are great churches. A great church is one of particular size and splendor). These monuments to religious pride are often museums in their own right as well as places to pray.

In 2019, Notre Dame’s roof burned. They believe the cathedral will be reopened in 2024…but it will take many more years to restore it.

This is nothing compared to how long it took to build the church in the first place.

The first stones were laid in 1163 and the original building was “largely complete” by…1260.

Almost a hundred years.

So long that the person who made the plans never saw it completed.

So, how were these huge buildings built?

Stone and Iron

When you look at one of these churches, you see a building of stone. It’s a bit more complicated than that.

Simple masonry wasn’t enough to hold up these buildings. The designs include flying buttresses to support walls…

…but they also included reinforcement. We used to think the iron rods and braces were a later addition, but new…