spetsbågar

Spetsbågar, or pointed arches, are arches whose apex comes to a sharp point rather than a rounded crown. The term is used in Swedish architectural history to describe a key element of Gothic architecture. The pointed form distributes weight along two curves that meet at a peak, which allows the structure to rise higher and to incorporate larger openings.

The architectural advantages of spetsbågar include a more efficient load distribution, enabling thinner walls and the use of ribbed vaults and flying buttresses. This combination made it possible to create tall facades, expansive windows, and intricate tracery, giving Gothic buildings their characteristic vertical emphasis and luminous interiors. Within spetsbågar, several forms developed, such as the lancet arch, which is tall and slender, and ogival or trefoil variations that modify the curvature of the crown.

Spetsbågar spread across Europe during the high and late Middle Ages and became a defining feature of churches, cathedrals, cloisters, and chapels. They also influenced later architectural styles and were revived in the 19th century during the Gothic Revival, which reintroduced pointed arches in new constructions and restorations.

In Sweden, spetsbågar are used in architectural history to describe Gothic and Neo-Gothic elements found in medieval churches and other stone buildings. The term helps distinguish the pointed arch form from semicircular Romanesque arches and is regularly encountered in discussions of Nordic Gothic architecture and its restoration.