broach spire

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 22, 2026

Quick Summary

A broach spire is an architectural feature where an octagonal spire rises directly from a square tower. To bridge the gap, triangular sections of masonry, called broaches, are added to the spire's faces. These broaches cover the corners of the square tower, creating a visual transition from the square base to the octagonal top without an intervening parapet. This design was developed in Gothic architecture to harmonize an octagonal spire with a square tower base.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

spire
…with a square base, the broach spire was developed: sloping, triangular sections of masonry, or broaches, were added to the bottom of the four spire faces that did not coincide with the tower sides, as in the 12th-century Church of St. Columba at Cologne. In the later 12th and 13th…
Read More
…with a square base, the broach spire was developed: sloping, triangular sections of masonry, or broaches, were added to the bottom of the four spire faces that did not coincide with the tower sides, as in the 12th-century Church of St. Columba at Cologne. In the later 12th and 13th…
Read More