Strasbourg Cathedral (France).

c.1190-1539 (mainly). Spans the period between Romanesque & Gothic. What's interesting is the start (transept crossing, aspe & northern arm) was done in Romanesque Style & the rest of the church in Gothic style.

This fact can be seen when one views down the central aisle. The nave has higher ceiling than the apse. Unlike Gothic apse, as the one seen at Colmar on the morning of 27 Oct, where the choir area is punctuated with high vertical windows & suffused with light, the Strasbourt apse is lit with a solitary window. The lantern celestory at the top was a 19th century addition. So there's this oddity about Strasbourg - bright nave but dinghy apse area, all an account of changes in style over its 250 years construction. As for the massive west facade - what's it content? Well, air & staircases basically. Again, it's a question of "function" vs "ritual".

Chup

.....Strasbourg, 28 October 2005