It was the master builders of the Gothic period who, whilst making the most of limited space, devised high walls, slender buildings, openwork volumes, and aerial pinnacles. The pinnacle is the crown – the “finoison” as it was called in the 14th century – of a vertical support point, relatively ornate, which ends in a cone or a pyramid. The pinnacle has a decorative function, but it also serves as an attachment for balustrades. It keeps the gargoyles and upper cornices in balance.