Romanesque architecture is obsessed in semi-circular arches,
massive walls, barrel wall roofs (barrel vault) and decorative arcades
(succession or arches on a walkway). It is markedly different from Gothic
architecture, which is characterized by use of pointed arches. If you are
thinking about fairy-tale castles and stuff, you are probably looking at some
elements of that architecture. Romanesque architecture flourished approximately
6th to 11th centuries, and it is widely adopted by
castles, monasteries, and churches. It got its name probably because of the
arches, which is a feature typical in Ancient Roman architecture. Actually, the
word Romanesque was coined in the 18th century.
