neogotische

Neogotische is the German term for Neo-Gothic, a revival of Gothic architecture and related design that spread across Europe and the Americas from the late 18th century into the 19th and early 20th centuries. The movement grew out of Romanticism and an interest in medieval culture, and it affected architecture, urban planning, decorative arts, and, in some cases, literature and university design.

Key features of neogotische design include a renewed emphasis on pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and flying buttresses, as well as intricate tracery, crocketed pinnacles, and vertical emphasis. Buildings often display polychrome detailing and carefully crafted ornamentation. The style was applied broadly, from churches and cathedrals to town halls, universities, and cemeteries, reflecting an intent to evoke historical continuity and moral seriousness.

In German-speaking regions, neogotische architecture became a prominent strand of historicist design. It aligned with Romanticism and medieval revival sensibilities and contributed to a sense of national or regional identity through architectural language. Notable examples in this sphere include the Votivkirche in Vienna (1856–79) and the Vienna City Hall (Rathaus) (1862–83). The approach also appeared in various projects in Berlin, Munich, and other cities, mirroring broader Gothic Revival trends in Britain and North America.

The neogotische style declined with the rise of modernism in the early 20th century but left a lasting influence on heritage conservation and the continued use of Gothic-inspired forms in public and religious buildings. It remains a key reference point in discussions of historicist architecture and architectural nationalism.