[Interior of the church at Fontenay, facing west, built early 12th century, photographed by Jean-Christophe Benoist, source: Wikimedia Commons]
[Nave of Notre Dame de L'Épine in L'Épine, France, 15th century, photographed 2011 by Mattana, source: Wikimedia Commons]
[Liebfrauenkirche in Mühlacker, Germany, 15th century, photographed 2006 by SteveK, source: Wikimedia Commons]
[View of a barrel vault showing forces, Mcginnly, source: Wikimedia Commons]
[Sant Esteve de Llanars, Spain, built 12th century, photographed 2011 by Baldiri, source: Wikimedia Commons]
[Groin vault, 2005, drawn by Yosemite, source: Wikimedia Commons]
[Aisle of the Abbey Church at Mozac, Germany, built 12th century, photographed by Jochen Jahnke, source: Wikimedia Commons]
[Church of the Monasterio de Santa María de Veruela, Vera de Moncayo, Spain, built 12th century, photographed 2007 by Zarateman, source: Wikimedia Commons]
[Cloister walk of Gloucester Cathedral, built 14th century, photographed by Saffron Blaze, source: Wikimedia Commons]
[St. Olav's church in Tallinn, Estonia, built 15th century (church built 12th century), photographed 2006 by -jkb-, source: Wikimedia Commons]
*And think how heavy that’s got to be.
**Vaulting can also be done in wood. Stone is just more likely to make it necessary.
***So pretty.
Stalley, Roger. Early Medieval Architecture. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999.
Stephenson, Carl. Mediaeval HIstory: Europe from the Second to the Sixteenth Century. New York: Harper & Row, 1962.
Vault (architecture) - Wikipedia
Barrel vault - Wikipedia
Groin vault - Wikipedia
Rib vault - Wikipedia
Fan vault - Wikipedia