Gothic architecture

:See also Gothic art.

Sequence of Gothic styles: France

The designations of styles in French Gothic architecture are as follows:

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• Early Gothic
• High Gothic
• Rayonnant
• Late Gothic

These divisions are effective, but debatable. Because Gothic cathedrals were built over several successive campaigns, one not necessarily following the wishes of previous campaigns, the dominant architectural paradigm changes throughout a particular building. Consequently, it is often difficult to declare one building as a member of a certain era of Gothic architecture. It is more useful to use the terms as descriptors for specific elements within a structure, rather than applying it to the building as a whole.

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Early Gothic:

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• The East end of the Abbey Church of St Denis

High Gothic:

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• Amiens Cathedral
• The main body of Chartres Cathedral
• Notre-Dame of Laon
• Notre Dame de Paris
• Reims Cathedral

Rayonnant:

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• The nave of the Abbey Church of St Denis

Late Gothic:

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