# Exterior view [View the canonical artwork record]() ## Artwork - Artist: [ARCHITECT, French]() - Date: 1151-1200 - Technique: Photo ## Commentary In the 1150s, the Benedictines of the abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés in Paris rebuilt their church. The 11th-century nave was retained, as was the old west tower, though this was given a modern sculpted portal. Only the choir with radiating chapels was completely rebuilt; this was consecrated by Pope Alexander III in 1163. In the apse, instead of the normal slender monolithic piers, sturdy columns with tall capitals were used. The inside elevation of the choir has three stories: in contrast with the two-storied nave, it was given an extra story, the triforium. The triforium arches were sacrificed in the 13th century when the clerestory windows were lengthened in order to make the church lighter. The flying buttresses in the exterior were never changed, however, so that Saint-Germain-des-Prés today possesses the oldest surviving flying buttresses on a Gothic church. The photo shows the choir. ## Related artworks - [Aerial view]() - [Aerial view]() - [Aerial view]() - [Aerial view]() - [Aerial view]() - [Aerial view]() - [Aerial view]() - [Aerial view]() - [Aerial view]() - [Bird's eye view]() - [Burial lantern]() - [Castle]() ## Attribution [Web Gallery of Art]()