The History and Architecture of the Church of St. Fortunatus at Charlieu in Burgundy

Abstract

At the beginning of the eleventh century there existed throughout much of western Europe a type of ecclesiastical architecture which Puig y Cadafalch has named the First Romanesque style.2 Its representative monuments varied in different regions, but certain distinguishing characteristics were common to most of them. Conspicuous among these were the small size and simple plan of the churches, the plain round or square supports between the nave and the aisles (though cruciform and even more complex piers elaborated by additional pilasters were not infrequent), the almost complete lack of sculpture, and the use of arched corbel tables and pilaster strips for exterior decoration. In addition, vaulted churches were to be found in certain regions notably Catalonia and Burgundy.