Crypt — Middle Ages

The story behind the answer

A crypt is a stone chamber beneath a church, typically used for burials and to house saints’ relics. In the Middle Ages, builders often placed it under the high altar so worship could occur “over” the remains of a revered figure. Unlike catacombs, which are sprawling networks of tunnels, a crypt is a single, enclosed room or suite of rooms; a tomb is any burial place, and a vault refers to the arched ceiling structure itself. The term comes from the Greek kryptē, meaning “hidden.” Romanesque and early Gothic churches frequently feature low, barrel- or groin-vaulted crypts that pilgrims could visit, making them both sacred spaces and practical foundations for the church above.