1. The False Image

The term "The Middle Ages" is difficult to define. According to Umberto Eco, this concept was invented in order to name the millennium, which no one could define as it was located between two "excellent" epochs: the one was already felt pride of, and the other was much yearned for.[1] The researcher raises the question: How can one stick a label on many centuries so differing one from other? On the one hand, there are times since the fall of the Roman Empire to the restoration of Carolings, when Europe was experiencing the most serious in its entire history crisis: political, demographic, religious and linguistic (this list could be very long). On the other hand, the Middle Ages are also the century of renewal after the 1st millennium, in respect of which it is said about the first industrial revolution, the time of the creation of the modern languages ​​and nations, the birth of democracy, bank, check and accounting, the period of the revolutionary changes in maritime and land transport, in techniques of farming and craft production, when it is invented compass, arched ceiling, and at the end the gunpowder and printing. How can one combine the centuries, in which the Arabs translate Aristotle and practice medicine and astronomy, while in the eastern part of Spain, despite leaving the "barbaric" era behind, Europe still cannot boast about its own culture?[2]

Meanwhile, in terms of the design features The Middle Ages are surprisingly consistent. Despite the numerous variations and modifications of the leading themes, this era’ design is easy to grasp into the framework of classification. Furthermore, the architecture and design characteristic for The Middle Ages cannot be confused with any other stylistics. The structural homogeneity of the era, numbering ten centuries, gives the impression as if time floated then in another, slower rhythm.

At the same time, one has to pay attention to the fact that the image of the Middle Ages, which can be built on the basis of examples of the medieval architecture, preserved to our days, often loses its original character and significance. Firstly, the medieval buildings have often been constructed over many years. Planned with a grand scale the assumptions have changed under construction, constantly staying in tune with the current times. This can be seen particularly in the example of the cathedrals, construction of which was started back in line with the Romanesque style, characteristic for The early Middle Ages, and the final shape and character have been given already under the influence of the Gothic tendencies (ex, Durham Cathedral, County Durham, England 1110-1133). Moreover, as a result of numerous wars the medieval buildings were often destroyed, and their reconstruction have already been conducted in accordance with the new rules. With the development of the military technologies and techniques of attacking the medieval buildings were constantly being improved in terms of defense, adapted to the new war standards. Castle walls began to be strengthened with defensive towers, gates were fortified and also there were introduced the additional rings of walls. The crew of the castle has become more numerous and so the living space was expanded.[3] The war was both a target and means in the "medieval game" carried on constantly. The highest stake was the great wealth afterwards reinvested into the strategic warfare. The layering of building serving for the defensive purposes within the medieval castles is the real record of the trend. In this sense, it is impossible to deny the dynamics of the medieval architecture, reflecting social and cultural changes of that time.

The image of the medieval architecture, despite ten centuries of development, has been shortened by the history of art due to neo-Gothic. This style, characteristic for the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, took over design trends of The late Middle Ages as a kind of eclectic plaything, using them in isolation from the original functions. Neo-Gothic offered the romantic, detached from reality vision of the Middle Ages, as exemplified by the neo-Gothic buildings such as: Downtown Castle (completed around 1778 years), Cardiff Castle, Castell Coch (1871-1891, Wales).

Looking at The Middle Ages through the prism of neo-Gothic buildings - both public and private – we completely move away from the truth concerning the ten centuries of the medieval architecture, in which the fundamental role was played by the functionality as opposed to the neo-gothic picturesqueness.

[1] U. Eco, The Art and Beauty of the Middle Ages, ed. The Sign, Krakow 1994

[2] Op. cit U. Eco.

[3] J. Pile, The design history, ed. Arcady, Warsaw, 2004