Carolingian architecture

The Palatine Chapel in Aachen constructed between 792–805 was inspired by the Emperor Justinian's octagonal San Vitale in Ravenna, built in the 6th century.

The rediscovery of the architecture treatises written by Vitruvius enabled the building in stone, a material previously little used north of the Loire Valley.

The architects did not simply copy the Roman forms but rather adapted their plans to serve the needs of the royal and religious ceremonies.

The St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem and the early Christian art and architecture became the main references for the Carolingian designers.

The Plan of Saint Gall, with its extensive and detailed instructions, though probably never reflecting an actual reality, is an important example of how the architectural elements of a Christian monastery were defined during this period to establish a classic style.