Romanesque architectural form

The classical Roman period, in time, gave way to the coming of an architectural form called Romanesque (it wasn’t known as that back then). This roughly covers the period from 800 to 1100, its rise coming about because of the growing religious power of the church at this time.
The earliest manifestations are thick-walled fortresses that served as refuges during times of invasion. At first these structures were not embellished, relying on load-bearing rounded arches and windows for ornamentation.
By the end of the period, around 1100, the facades and interiors of some churches were being covered with sculptures designed to highlight architecture instead of separate works of art. Many pieces of Romanesque sculpture are solid, rigid, unyielding, and lifeless, yet the capitals of the columns often are charming and decorative. Bas-reliefs, especially those depicting the Last Judgment, came into vogue. Reliefs enveloped column capitals and were used to adorn tympanums — arched spaces over doorways or portals. To see the true remains of the Romanesque style, you’d have to go into remote France, beyond the province of this guide. A prime example would be the Abbey of Fontenay in Burgundy.