Romanesque architecture was the medieval European style known for round arches, thick walls, and massive forms before Gothic architecture became dominant. It flourished especially during the 11th and 12th centuries.
Romanesque builders drew on ancient Roman and Byzantine traditions while adapting them to local materials and practices. Churches commonly featured sturdy piers, barrel or groin vaults, small windows, large towers, and extensive decorative arcading. Their heavy walls were necessary because builders had not yet developed the structural systems that allowed Gothic buildings to rise higher and open their walls with enormous windows.
The clearest visual distinction from Gothic architecture is the arch: Romanesque buildings generally use semicircular arches, while Gothic architecture is associated with pointed arches. The transition was gradual, however, and some 12th-century buildings combine features of both styles.
Romanesque architecture spread across much of Western Europe, making it the first broad European architectural style since the Roman Empire. Important examples include Durham Cathedral, Speyer Cathedral, the Abbey Church of Sainte-Foy at Conques, and Santiago de Compostela Cathedral.