Many French churches built in the Romanesque style were built along the pilgrimage routes developed during the Romanesque period, from the 9th to 12th century A.D. Pilgrims had a profound influence on French architecture during this time, particularly in relation to the design of churches and chapels. Passageways were built behind the altar to allow for the creation of several smaller chapels designed to house relics, which pilgrims could gaze upon as they performed their devotions. This collection of small rooms is seen as a cluster of delicate, curved roofs at one end of the church from the exterior, a distinctive feature of many Romanesque churches.
An excellent example of French Romanesque architecture is Vezelay Abbey, first consecrated in 879 A.D. The original church was destroyed during a Norman invasion and restored during the early 11th century. Sometime during the renovation, the tomb of Mary Magdalene was opened at St, Maximin in Provence, and her bones were removed to Vezelay. Construction on the present day basilica began in 1096 with the intent of providing a place to properly house the relics and welcome the numerous devoted pilgrims eager to honor the sacred relics.
The Gothic period extends from the 12th to 15th century A.D. The greatest achievements in Gothic architecture were completed in France between the mid-12th century and mid-13th century. One of the most distinctive exterior features of Gothic architecture are the lofty, recessed porches which provide ample space for the open storage of statuary and important relics, which were displayed during the Gothic period for the veneration by pilgrims.
Some Gothic churches were built specifically to house one or more holy relics, such as Sainte Chapelle, a perfect, miniature example of a French Gothic church. King Louis IX built Saint Chapelle in his island palace on the Seine, in the heart of Paris, with the sole purpose of housing the Crown of Thorns, a piece from the True Cross and the head of the Holy Lance which pierced Jesus' side during the crucifixion. The building is unusually tall, due to the king's desire to have ease of access to the upper chapel from his apartments on the first floor.
Chartres is perhaps the world's most well-known example of French Gothic architecture. The Chartres cathedral houses the tunic supposed to have been worn by the Virgin Mary at the annunciation, when the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would bear Jesus, whose name means "savior." The relic inspired such devotion in the local population that, beginning in 1145, multitudes of people from all social classes helped to painstakingly hand-build a new west front designed to safely hold the tunic. When fire destroyed most of the cathedral in 1194, the new west front remained intact, along with the sacred relic, a seeming reward for the people's effort and devotion.