The Gothic style emerged from France, was the longest lasting European architectural movement, and is associated with the rise of the Great cities in Europe. Romanesque and Byzantine architecture are rooted in other regions and were highly religious for the duration of their dominance. The International Style was a very brief phenomenon, and is distinguished by its unique, elongated rendering of the human figure.

Gothic architecture dominated between the fall of Rome in the fifth century CE and the rise of the Renaissance in the fifteenth century. Gothic architecture was notable for large, ornate stone structures with many elements and imposing figures. All of these are best seen in the many Gothic cathedrals that allowed architects and designers their most control over the shape of buildings.

While all of the above choices are aspects of Gothic architecture, flying buttresses are the innovation that allowed for newfound structural stability in Gothic cathedral architecture by pushing the weight of the building outward. Cathedral walls did not have to be as large or as thick any longer, allowing for larger windows (often filled with stained glass). These windows helped to create brighter interiors in comparison to the dim and damp interiors of pre-Gothic cathedrals.

The centermost sweeping area of the church is the nave. Its length is what contributes to the rectangular nature of the plan. The aisles are what give the church its cross shape, and the transepts are the outcroppings on the sides. The apex is the half-circle at the top of the nave across from the doors, and is where the church official would stand.

Gothic architecture experienced a revival in England, which spread to Europe, and even reached the United States at one point. It has mostly been used for academic institutions and churches/cathedrals.

Neoclassicism is a revival of Ancient Greek and Ancient Roman art and architecture, but Neoclassicism itself never experience a revival, as it has remained somewhat popular through the 21st century.

A key feautre of Gothic churches is their extreme height. This verticality was partly for show, but more importantly symbolized an attempt to reach heaven. For many centuries, Gothic cathedrals were the tallest buildings in Europe.

Cathedrals, and many churches, built in Western Europe during the Middle Ages were usually set out in a cruciform, or cross shape. Chartres Cathedral, while featuring a wider transcept, or shorter branching of the cross, follows this pattern as well. Chartres Cathedral differed from other Gothic cathedrals in having a more uniform height for its arcade, triforium, and clerestory levels, the arches on the interior's walls.

Although the Gothic period and the Renaissance coincided -meaning, at one point in time, they were occurring simultaneously- Gothic architecture was not inspired by the Renaissance during the 12th and 13th centuries, as the Renaissance did not begin until the 14th century.

Gothic architecture is known for being much more vertically-oriented than its predecessor, the Romanesque architecture movement. It is also known for its pointed arches and expansive interior lighting.

The cathedral does have a baptistry attached, as was tradition by the time it was completed. There are likely also s-curved figures in the space, as that was the figural building tradition of the time. Bell towers were not featured as much in Gothic architecture, although a spire could have a bell within it. As Gothic cathedrals grew more ornate, square bell towers became spindly and graceful spires, built as high as they could reach. This cathedral, though, does not feature this element.