Architectural style in Europe that lasted from the mid 12th century to the 16th century, particularly a style of masonry building characterized by cavernous spaces with the expanse of walls broken up by overlaid tracery .
In the 12th13th centuries, feats of engineering permitted increasingly gigantic buildings. The rib vault , flying buttress , and pointed (Gothic) arch were used as solutions to the problem of building a very tall structure while preserving as much natural light as possible. Stained-glass window panels rendered startling sun-dappled interior effects. One of the earliest buildings to combine these elements into a coherent style was the abbey of Saint-Denis, Paris ( 0441; 113544). The High Gothic years ( 0441; 12501300), heralded by Chartres Cathedral , were dominated by France, especially with the development of the Rayonnant style . Britain, Germany, and Spain produced variations of this style, while Italian Gothic stood apart in its use of brick and marble rather than stone. Late Gothic (15th-century) architecture reached its height in Germany's vaulted hall church es. Other late Gothic styles include the British Perpendicular style and the French and Spanish Flamboyant style .