Editing Internet Texts/Gothic Architecture in France, England, and Italy/Characteristics of Gothic Architectural Style

= Plan = One of the main characteristics of Gothic architecture is the height of the cathedrals.

=Other elements=

Lancet window
Lancet window is a tall, narrow window capped by a lancet arch. Since such windows provide very little light, they usually come in the group of two or more. The group may be surmounted by a single moulding with each window separated with a mullion.

Rose window
Rose window is a circular window with mullions and traceries incorporated into it, often glazed with stained glass. It was mainly used at the west end of the nave and at the end of a transept.

Pinnacle
A pinnacle is an ornament of a pyramidal or conical shape, used to terminate buttresses, spires, parapets and other architectural structures. On a smaller scale, it was used in Romanesque architecture and later developed into more prominent decoration. Crowning buttresses with pinnacles also enhanced their stability.

Crockets
Crockets are regularly spaced, decorative elements in the form of curled leaves, buds or flowers, used to adorn the edges of spires, pinnacles and gables.

Gargoyle
A gargoyle is a waterspout projecting out from a wall. Its main purpose is to convey the water away from the wall. Rainwater flows through a system of channels and then exits though the pipe projecting from the gargoyle's mouth.

In Gothic architecture, they were most frequently carved into distorted, grotesque human forms or fantastic beasts. They were meant to portray the evil and were used as a means of presenting Biblical themes to the illiterate masses.

Fleuron
A fleuron is a flower-shaped ornament, which was often used as a finial of the pinnacles, spires or gables.

=References=