Apse facts for kids

A typical apse in an early Christian Byzantine church.

An apse is a special part of a building, usually a church or a cathedral. It's shaped like a half-circle or a half-dome, almost like a big, rounded alcove. You'll often find the apse at the end of the main part of the church, especially at the "liturgical east" end, which is where the main altar is located. It's covered with a rounded ceiling, like a half-dome or a vault.

What is an Apse?

The word "apse" comes from a Latin word meaning "arch" or "vault." Think of it as a rounded space that sticks out from the main building. It's a common feature in many old and beautiful churches, especially those built in the Romanesque, Byzantine, and Gothic styles.

Where You Find Apses

Apses are most often found in Christian buildings like cathedrals, churches, and abbeys. They usually mark the end of the main hall, called the nave. This rounded area often holds the main altar, making it a very important and sacred part of the building.

Apse Shapes and Roofs

While an apse is typically semicircular, some can also be polygonal, meaning they have many straight sides that form a rounded shape. The roof of an apse can be flat, sloped, or even a full dome, but the most common is the semi-dome, which looks like half of a sphere. This design helps create a grand and open space around the altar.

Images for kids

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  Typical floor plan of a cathedral, with the apse shaded

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  Triple apse of Basilica di Santa Giulia, northern Italy

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  East end of the abbey church of Saint-Ouen, showing the chevet, Rouen, Seine-Maritime, France

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  A chevet apse vault, Toulouse, France

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  Apsed chancel of St Mary's Church, West Dean, Wiltshire, England

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  The decorated apse of the Cathedral of Monreale, Sicily

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  The apse of Manila Cathedral, Philippines

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  The apse of St. Martin church in Busskirch, community Jona, Switzerland

See also

In Spanish: Ábside para niños