façade

tympanum

Flat portion of the portal above the door and between the orders.

portal

Ornamental architectural feature of a façade containing one or several doors.

pier

Pillar dividing the portal in two and supporting the lintels.

pier

Masonry pillar supporting the orders.

splay

Recessed side of the portal that widens from its inside to its outside edge.

lintel

Horizontal section of the door frame that fills the opening above a door or portal.

order

Each of the receding arches that form a vault over a portal.

trefoil

Ornamental motif comprised of three lobes.

gable

Triangular decorative element with molded edges, located above the portal.

flying buttress

Masonry structure in the shape of a partial arch; it supports a wall by transferring the pressure of the vaults onto an abutment.

belfry

Small steeplelike ornament in the shape of a pyramid; it is found on the corners of the transept or on each side of the façade.

spire

Tapering part in the shape of a pyramid that surmounts the belfry.

gallery

Covered passage along the cathedral’s façade, decorated with statues.

stained glass

Translucent decorative work comprised of an assemblage of glass pieces, usually colored, that fills a bay.

tracery

Stone framework adorning the inside of a bay.

rose window

Large circular bay composed of decorative tracery and stained glass; it is also called a rosette.

bell tower

Tower with bays in which the bells are hung.

louver-board

Inclined slat located in the bell tower bay; it projects the sound of the bells downward.