Research Paper on:
The Architectural Features of Notre Dame and St. Etienne

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inspired by the medieval worldview that placed religion and spirituality at the center of European life. The following discussion of these churches demonstrates how St. Etienne foreshadows Notre Dame, exemplifying  how the Norman architecture of the Romanesque era led naturally into the Gothic architecture of Notre Dame. The construction that occurred during the 11th century in Normandy, of which St.  Etienne is a part, had a lasting effect on that region of France (Fleming 120). Norman architecture, such as St. Etienne, resulted from the union of the "rugged pagan spirit  of the Vikings and the Gallic Christian remnants of the disintegrated Carolingian empire (Fleming 120). The church of St. Etienne is located in the city of Caen in Normandy.  Construction on this cathedral began in 1067 and ended in 1120 (Petersen). St. Etiennes is an excellent example of the Norman style of Romanesque architecture (Petersen). The style emerged  during the reign of William the Conqueror and this historical figure is buried at St. Etienne. Buttresses divided the fa?ade of St. Etienne into three bays, giving it a  tripartite structure (Petersen). There are also three horizontal divisions. The buildings spirals were added during the Gothic period and are not representative of true Romanesque style, However, St. Etiennes is  generally viewed as a precursor of the Gothic style of church architecture, which began in 1140 with the re-building of St. Denis in Paris (Petersen). The floor plan of St.  Etiennes reveals a regular system of square modules (Petersen). Ribbed groin vaults (or just rib vaults) replace barrel vaults, which allows the addition of clerestory windows (Petersen). The rib vaults  or groin vaults are reinforced with extra stone ribbing. The vaults at St. Etienne are some of the earliest ribbed vaults used in cathedral construction (Petersen). These vaults are supported