The gothic building art developped in the 12th century out of the Romanesque buildings. It was mainly a technical evolution, that allowed to replace massive walls with small windows by an architecture of supporting points, between which thin walls and/or large windows became possible. The Gothic architecture was dominated by high cross ribvaultings with pointed arches, supported by clustered columns, buttresses, flying buttresses, pointed arches (though in the beginning, above porches and windows still round arches were used). Gothic buildings give an strong feeling of height. The walls(having lost their carrying function), disappeared to make place for radial chapels and side chapels, triforia and large windows, often containing beautifully stained glass. Trefoil- and quatrefoil were in, as well as trilobates. Flying buttresses got beautiful pinnacles, decorated by crockets. Normally, the gothic period is divided in 3:

1. Early gothic (12th century). Often still windows with round arches.
2. High gothic (13th and 14th century). During this period, the style is present all over Europe, and the cruisades carry it along to the East. Windoew take almost the full with between the buttresses, building become higher and higher... Porches are under greatly decorated pointed arches, and window become lancets...
3. Late gothic. Evolution into the Baroque direction, often with non-functional treatment of building elements, more flamboyant forms and complicated vaultings.