French Architecture

Technically, no architecture named French Architecture, although not always been true. Gothic Architecture old name was French Architecture (or Opus Francigenum). The term "Gothic" appeared later as a stylish and widely used. Northern France is home to some Gothic cathedral and the most important basilicas, the first being the Saint Denis Basilica (used as the royal necropolis); French Gothic cathedral is another significant Notre-Dame de Chartres and Notre-Dame d'Amiens. Kings were crowned in another important Gothic church: Notre-Dame de Reims. Aside from churches, Gothic Architecture had been used in many religious palaces, the most important is the Palais des Papes in Avignon.

During the middle Ages, the fortified castle built by feudal nobles to mark their authority against its competitors. When King Philip II took Rouen from King John, for example, he demolished the ducal castle to build a bigger one. Fortified cities were also common, unfortunately most French castles did not survive the passage of time. This is why the Château-Gaillard was Richard the Lionheart was demolished, also the Château de Lusignan. Some important French castles that survived are Chinon, Château d'Angers, the massive Château de Vincennes and the so called Cathar castles.

Before the appearance of this architecture France had been using as part of Romanesque architecture of Western Europe (with the exception of the Iberian Peninsula, which uses the Moorish architecture). Some great examples of Romanesque churches in France are the Saint Sernin Basilica in Toulouse and the ruins of the Abbey of Cluny (destroyed during the Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars).

End of the Hundred Years' War marked an important stage in the evolution of French architecture. It was the time the French Renaissance and several artists from Italy and Spain were invited to France; many residential palaces, Italian, built, especially in the Loire Valley. Such residential castles were the Château de Chambord, the Château de Chenonceau, or the Château d'Amboise. Following the renaissance and the end of the Middle Ages, Baroque Architecture replaced the gothic. However, in France, baroque architecture found a greater success in the secular domain than religious. In the secular domain the Palace of Versailles has many baroque features. Jules Hardouin Mansart can be considered as influential French architect of the baroque style, baroque dome degnan his famous in Les Invalides. Some of impressive provincial baroque architecture is found in places that are not French as the Place Stanislas in Nancy. In the military architectural side Vauban designed some of the most efficient fortresses of Europe and became the most influential military architect.

After the Revolution, the Republicans favored Neoclassicism although neoklasikisme introduced in France before the revolution with such building as the Parisian Pantheon or the Capitole de Toulouse. Built during the French Empire the Arc de Triomphe and Sainte Marie-Madeleine represent this trend the best.

Under Napoleon III a new wave of urbanism and architecture done. When some interesting buildings like the Palais Garnier built the neo-baroque, urban planning at the time was very neat and great. For example Baron Haussmann rebuilt Paris. These periods also evoke Gothic trend strong rise across Europe, the French architect who designed it was Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. In the 19th century Gustave Eiffel designed many bridges (like the Bridge viaduct) and remains one of the most influential bridge designer of the time, although he is best remembered for the Eiffel Tower.

In the 20th century, the Swiss architect Le Corbusier designed several buildings in France. More recently French architects combine modern architectural style and the old. The Louvre Pyramid is a good example of modern architecture added to an older building. The most difficult buildings built in the French cities are skyscrapers, as can be seen from far away. France's largest financial district is La Defense, where a large number of skyscrapers are located. Other large buildings are being challenged to adapt to the environment is a big bridge; example Millau Viaduct. Some modern French architects include Jean Nouvel or Paul Andreu.