The rose window is one of the defining architectural features of many Gothic cathedrals and churches. These extraordinary masterpieces of ecclesiastical art are unique for combining
complex engineering, profound theological symbolism, and dramatic aesthetic expression.
Rose windows may be seen in all the major 12th-century Gothic cathedrals of northern France, and can also be admired in medieval-era churches in Spain, Italy, and England. Their origins, however, date back to classical antiquity, when a rose window was nothing more than a simple hole in a wall.
So, how did these magnificent and intricate stained-glass "wheels of light" evolve, and where can you admire the finest and most dazzling examples? Click on and trace the history of these circular mosaic windows.