Gothic architecture
Sens Cathedral (begun between 1135 and 1140) was the first Cathedral to be built in the new style (St. Denis was an abbey, not a Cathedral). Other versions of the new style soon appeared in Noyon Cathedral (begun 1150); Laon Cathedral (begun 1165); and the most famous of all, Notre-Dame de Paris, where construction had begun in 1160.
Church architecture
The Gothic era began in 12th-century France. It was first coined by historiographer Giorgio Vasari. The era began in north-eastern France and slowly spread throughout the rest of Europe. Multiple styles of Gothic architecture occurred, notably Rayonnant in the 13th century. A style known for its exaggerated geometrical features, making everything as astounding and eye-catching as possible. Shortly after an emerging style was born known as decorated gothic where these geometrical features were being applied to already complex structural forms. Nearing the end of the Gothic period the art style had transcended to being just churches attempting to align themselves with god. Residences, guilds, government buildings all adopted this new architectural style.[[Image: Bete Giyorgis Lalibela Ethiopia.jpg|thumb|[[Bete Giyorgis]] from above, one of the rock-hewn churches of [[Lalibela]]]]