Cathedrals: Building a new church?

Question

I want to know how the ancient European cathedrals were built. How do the architects of the XII to XV Century measure the land and height according to their proposal?
How many years do the constructions take?
*Notredame,Paris
*Duomo, Milan
*Orvietto, Italy
*Santa Croce, Florence

Which are the different kind of artisans needed for make the ornaments of the ancient churchs?

Romanic & Gothic style/Architecture

Answer 1

If you refer to the second part of your question here is a site:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architecture_of_the_United_Kingdom
http://www.answers.com/topic/gothic-revival
http://www.arinzedesign.com/1810/architecture.html

But, if you want to learn about those huge wonderful cathedrals
you better look by their name:

http://www.cathedraledeparis.com/
http://www.santm.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=3651

Or the Duomo in Milano
http://web.kyoto-inet.or.jp/org/orion/eng/hst/gothic/milanoc.html

There is so much to find, no problem at all.

Answer 2

If you have the time to read it, Ken Follet's "Pillars of the Earth" is an excellent, fictional, story of the building of a cathedral in England in the middle ages. it gives you a great feel for how it was done, the years it took, the artisans used, etc.

Answer 3

every main church of some biscupy in catholic religion, in Europe is a cathedral. basilica is one architectural form of a church, named after a roman architectural form. just to correct the answer above mine. :)

Answer 4

About ornaments; it,s depends what You want to build: cathedrala, dom or basilica