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Carolingian architecture is the style of north EuropeanPre-Romanesque architecture belonging to the period of theCarolingian Renaissance of the late 8th and 9th centuries, when theCarolingian dynasty dominated west European politics. It was a conscious attempt to emulateRoman architecture and to that end it borrowed heavily fromEarly Christian andByzantine architecture, though there are nonetheless innovations of its own, resulting in a unique character.
The gatehouse of themonastery at Lorsch, built around 800, exemplifiesclassical inspiration for Carolingian architecture, built as a triple-arched hall dominating the gateway, with the arched facade interspersed with attachedclassical columns andpilasters above.
ThePalatine Chapel in Aachen constructed between 792–805 was inspired by theEmperor Justinian's octagonalSan Vitale inRavenna, built in the 6th century. AtAachen there is a tall monumental western entrance complex, as a whole called awestwork—a Carolingian innovation.
Carolingian churches generally arebasilican in form, like theEarly Christian churches of Rome, and commonly incorporated westworks, which is arguably the precedent for the western facades of later medieval cathedrals. An original westwork survives today at theAbbey of Corvey, built in 885.
TheCarolingian Renaissance generated such a construction boom that between 768 and 855, 27 new cathedrals, 417 monastic buildings and 100 royal residences were built. Just duringCharlemagne's reign, 16 cathedrals, 232 monasteries and 65 palaces were built. The kings were not only responsible for the construction sites but they also provided the architects and the funding. The rediscovery of the architecture treatises written byVitruvius enabled the building in stone, a material previously little used north of theLoire Valley. During their travels to Italy, the Carolingians discovered the Roman basilicas andtriumphal arches. The architects did not simply copy the Roman forms but rather adapted their plans to serve the needs of the royal and religious ceremonies. Most of the architectural elements invented at the beginning of the Carolingian period were refined over decades and successively adapted to eventually lead to theRomanesque architecture of the 11th century.
The archaeological evidence indicates that in addition to religious architecture, there once existed an abundance of secular buildings, most of which no longer exist. Any occasional vestiges of secular buildings are only being evident from the air by means of outline shadows,[1] and many have been incorporated into subsequent buildings. This can be attributed to the fact that secular building in stone (such ascastles) was not introduced until the following centuries.[1] Only in the case of Carolingian palaces has archaeology made a serious attempt to recover the foundations and attempted scientific reconstructions.[1]
The first period of Carolingian architecture, during the reign ofPepin the Short and the beginning ofCharlemagne's reign, was driven by powerful ecclesiastic figures such as bishopChrodegang of Metz,Fulrad, abbot ofSaint-Denis, and Manassès, abbot ofFlavigny Abbey.
The pope wanted to reorganise and standardise the Catholic Church with the help of Charlemagne. BishopChrodegang introduced the Roman liturgical services which resulted in important changes in the architecture. The orientation of the churches was defined so that the altar would be located at the eastern end while the entrance would be at the western end. TheSt. Peter's Basilica in Rome, theChurch of the Holy Sepulchre inJerusalem and theearly Christian art and architecture became the main references for the Carolingian designers.
During the years 780–790, the creation ofLorsch Abbey, the expansion of thePrincely Abbey of Corvey, and the foundation of the abbeys ofSaint-Riquier andFulda marked a new departure. ThePalace of Aachen with itsPalatine Chapel was the culmination of this period.
Towards the end of Charlemange's reign architecture projects multiplied, some very ambitious, as well as the integration of the liturgical services and the codification of the monastic architecture. ThePlan of Saint Gall, with its extensive and detailed instructions, though probably never reflecting an actual reality, is an important example of how the architectural elements of a Christian monastery were defined during this period to establish a classic style.
The decline of the Carolingians started during the 10th century and culminated in 1000–1020, when the Carolingian institutions collapsed inFrance while inGermany the newOttonian dynasty developed anOttonian architecture, which borrowed numerous elements from the Carolingian architecture. A fine example of this is the Eglise Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul d'Ottmarsheim in Alsace, founded around 1030.
