Interior view

In the abbey church of Saint-Serge the architect constructed a double-aisled rectangular choir with a protruding axial chapel. Thin vault webs rising up to the centre support each other, so that additional buttressing is unnecessary. As the main bays already possess eight-part vault, the number of ribs at the end of the choir and its corners is further increased. This richer disposition not only fulfills a decorative purpose but also serves to carry the thrust of the vaults vertically,especially at the edge of the building. Since the diagonal thrust of the vaults is reduced, the piers in the choir could be radically slimmed down. Thus the choir of Saint-Serge became one of the most filigreed Gothic halls.

The photo shows the choir.

View the ground plan of the choir of the Benedictine abbey church of Saint-Serge, Angers.