Ottonian architecture

[5] Apart from some examples influenced by the octagonal Palatine Chapel at Aachen such as Ottmarsheim (11th century, Alsace) and the apse of the abbey of the Holy Trinity at Essen, religious architecture tends to diverge from the centralised plan.

The churches from this era feature long naves and apses.The architectural engineering of their buildings relied heavily on mathematics, which can be seen in how Ottonian structures measurements are calculated by square unit and in how symmetrical the interior and exterior layouts are.

[9][10] Ottonian kings, heavily influenced by the rule of Charlemagne and his empire, sought to emphasize the importance of the Christian faith.

[11][12] Ottonian architecture played a role in the rituals of the Holy Roman Empire, such as the coronations of emperors and burial locations for members of the royal family.

[13] The ability to gather a large audience to bear witness to the rituals and royal ceremonies of the time increased in importance as Ottonian kings attempted to maintain the grandeur and scale of the Carolingians.

[10] This church, connected closely to the Ottonian royal family, served as the burial spot for both Bruno in 965 and the wife of Otto II in 991.

[19] Originally, the site held a Roman or Frankish building before Willigis decided to expand it, creating a Ottonian style basilica divided into two chancels with a large west transept.

[19] It was burnt down again in 1081 leaving only a few of the original Ottonian features in the modern cathedral namely, the lower floors of the circular staircases of the towers and parts of the western end.