The most important extant fronts of the thirteenth century are those of Lincoln, Salisbury, Wells, and Peterborough. The portals of English churches are in general insignificant and diminutive, and those of Wells are especially so. In the early pointed architecture of England, western towers, when they occur, are less imposing than those of the Gothic churches of France. Towards the close of the thirteenth century, in Germany, the west front began to receive more elaborate and peculiar treatment. Acute open gables over the portals, free-standing mullions and tracery over the face of the wall above, and tall open gallery in front of the openings of the second stories of the towers, are among the new features.
Entrances are often north or south, instead of being at the west end.
Towers with spires were much used, open-work tracery in the spires is very characteristic. The typical examples of German Gothic are Strasburg, Freiburg, Ratisbon, Cologne, and Vienna cathedrals. There was a general absence of pinnacles. Stone or marble of different colours, carried in systematic band-courses or patterns throughout the design, gives a special character, as at Siena, Orvieto, Verona, etc. A large central circular window was a general feature.