Here, as almost everywhere else in Europe, from the middle
of the 12th to the end of the 13th century, architecture passed
through a period of rapid development, which culminated with
the completion of Nidaros Cathedral’s lofty vaultings.
The first great steps in the new direction are apparent in
Hamar Cathedral, founded in 1152 by Nicholas Breakspeare. Its
original plan was partially altered in the Gothic period by the
enlargement of the choir. But from the ruins and old descrip-
St. Mary’s Church.
tions, it is possible to reconstruct the plan of a regular basilica
with transepts, centre tower, two large west towers, and probably
originally with a quadrangular termination to the choir. The
arches of the nave are of semicircular form with square recesses
and supported by comparatively slender round columns. In spite
of the fuller development, the east-country tendency still makes
itself felt here in a certain poorness and simplicity in the treatment
of detail.
The scanty ruins of St. Olav’s abbey church a t Tonsberg
are the only remains in Norway of the round churches of the
12th century that are so common in Denmark and southern
Sweden.
In the buildings of the west and north country, the chancel
generally terminates squarely, and apses become less and less frequent
the farther north we go.
Of all the churches that were built at this time in Bergen,
only the nave, towers and westernmost bay of the choir of St.
Mary’s Church are left. This is the only basilica existing in
Trondhjem Cathedral.
Norway with nave and aisles, that has square pillars; it has two
west towers, and gives evidence throughout rather of northern
Erench, than of English influence. The choir was enlarged in
the first half of the 13th century by two eastern bays in fine
Gothic with lancet lights. Among other west-country churches
belonging to this period, may be named the beautiful aisleless
buildings at Taiga in Ryfylke, and Hove in Sogn.
The late Norman style represented in Trondhjem and the
Trondhjem district is without doubt the richest.