Spire facts for kids
A spire is a tapering conical or pyramidal structure on the top of a building, particularly a church tower. Etymologically, the word comes from the Old English word spir, meaning a sprout, shoot, or stalk of grass.
Symbolically, spires have two effects. One is to show strength and power. A spire, with its spear point, gives the impression of strength. The other is to reach up toward the skies as a religious gesture. This is one reason for its association with religious buildings, and a similar reason has been given for the large pyramids in Egypt and early American civilisations. However, the tallest spires today are secular places of business or hotels, such as The Shard.
As an architectural ornament, spires are most often found on Christian churches.
Images for kids
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The Burj Khalifa holds the record of the tallest spire in the world, with the height of 223 m (732 ft)
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Chartres Cathedral. The Flamboyant Gothic North Tower (finished 1513) (left) and older South Tower (1144–1150) (right)
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Crown spire on the High Kirk, Edinburgh.
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The flèche of Rouen Cathedral (centre), (151 meters), the tallest flèche in France
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The octagonal tower of Burgos Cathedral (1221–1260), with an array of pinnacles
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The spire of Burghley House (1555–1587) is an example of a spire on non-religious building.
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The Gothic spire of Antwerp Cathedral (1352–1521)
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19th century spires of Cologne Cathedral
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Neo-Gothic-Modernist Sagrada Família in Barcelona
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19th century flèche of Notre-Dame de Paris
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Spire of St Martin's Church, Landshut
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Gothic spires of Burgos Cathedral.
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Pinnacles in Utrecht, Netherlands
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See also
In Spanish: Chapitel para niños
