Southern French Gothic

Southern French Gothic, or Meridional Gothic, is a specific and militant style of Gothic architecture developed in the south of France, especially the Toulouse region, arising in the early 13th century after the Catholic church's victory over the Cathars as it sought to re-establish authority there, so that church buildings typically show features drawn from military architecture. It is simpler and less ornate than northern French Gothic, uses brick rather than stone, and over time came to influence secular buildings as well as churches, spreading beyond the area where Catharism had flourished.