Hall church

A hall church is a type of church building. The term "hall church" is about the architecture of the building. Most very large churches and cathedrals are built with a long part where people sit, called the "nave". On each side of the nave is a lower "aisle". Between the nave and the aisles are rows of columns. Above the columns are windows which let light into the nave. In a hall church, there are no windows above the columns. The nave and the aisles are about the same height.

St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna is a hall church.

Famous cathedrals which are hall churches are Milan Cathedral in Italy, St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna and Bristol Cathedral in England.

The term was first used in the mid-19th century by the German art historian Wilhelm Lübke.

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  Another inside view of St Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna.
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  Saint Thomas Church (Strasbourg) is the only hall-church in Alsace. It is a Protestant church today.
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  The main Church in Tulln, Austria.

Related pages

• Gothic architecture