Rose window Facts for Kids

Interior of the rose at Strasbourg Cathedral

Rose window is a word used to describe a round window design, which is similar to the many petals of a rose. Most often the term is used to describe the round windows of some churches, especially those built in Gothic style.

Architectural drawing of the rose window of Strasbourg Cathedral, France
Outside view of the rose at Strasbourg Cathedral

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San Pedro, Ávila, Spain.
Chartres Cathedral
Notre Dame, Paris
Reims Cathedral, France
The rose window of Lancing College chapel
Symbolism: the north rose of Notre Dame, Paris, has at its centre the Blessed Virgin Mary and Christ Child in Majesty, surrounded by prophets and saints.
Symbolism: the north rose of the Abbey of St Denis, Paris, showing God the Creator, surrounded by the Days of Creation, the Order of the Heavens represented by the Zodiac and the Order of Earth as represented by the Labours of the Months. In the corners are the Fall of Mankind.
The oculus of the Pantheon, Rome
Roman mosaic. Athens
Roman mosaic. Rome
Roman mosaic. Pompei
Geometrical rose in a Roman mosaic. Spain
Oculus of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome, 5th century (decoration is later)
Baptistery of St. John of Poitiers, France, 6-7th century
Oculi of Sant'Agnese fuori le mura
Torcello Cathedral, Venice
Aquileia Basilica, Italy, 11th century
Merovingian decorative architectural marble reliefs, 6th century, on display in Baptistery of St. John of Poitiers
Merovingian illumination in Missale Gothicum, towards 700. The two large roses are six-lobed
Common visigothic decoration. Archaeological crypt in Valencia Cathedral, 6–7th century
Visigothic design of roses, preislamic, from basilica of Saint Vincent of Lérins of Cordoba, 6–7th century
Visigothic window with stone tracery, of Church of San Juan Bautista, Baños de Cerrato, 7th century
San Miguel de Lillo, Oviedo, Spain. Towards 850
San Miguel de Lillo, detail
San Miguel de Lillo, detail
Italy, Troia, Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta (1093–1125).
Italy, Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi (1228–1253).
France, Notre-Dame de Paris (1250–1260).
Italy, Monterosso al Mare, Church of St. John the Baptist (1282–1307).
Italy, L'Aquila, Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio (1287).
Basilica Cathedral of Lodi, Italy
France, Chartres Cathedral, ancient transept window.
France, Sens Cathedral, transept, showing Flamboyant window incorporated into a large composition.
Notre-Dame de Paris, France, north transept.
France, Sainte-Chapelle, Paris, the Apocalypse in Flamboyant tracery.
England Lincoln Cathedral, the Bishop's Eye. Fragments of ancient glass in a Flowing Gothic window.
Germany, Memorial Church (Gedaechtniskirche), Speyer.
Sweden, Oscar Frediks Church.
Catalonia, Spain, Santa Maria del Pi, Barcelona.
Peru, the Presidential Palace
England, St Matthias, Richmond. architect G. Scott, glass William Wailes
Germany, the chancel window of Himmelfahrtskirche, Dresden.
Spain, Mallorca, Palma, with a pattern which existed already in the ancient Roman and wisigothic roses.
Australia, the Waratah window, St Bede's, Drummoyne, Sydney, by Alfred Handel.
United States, window over the altar in Boston University's Marsh Chapel

Rose window facts for kids

Images for kids

See also