Liquid crystal display device and method of manufacturing the same

A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display device, comprising:

• a first step of forming a columnar spacer on a first substrate;
• a second step of forming an alignment film on said first substrate on which said columnar spacer is formed;
• a third step of applying a rubbing treatment to said alignment film;
• and
• a fourth step of arranging said first substrate and said second substrate to face each other and arranging a liquid crystal material in a gap formed between said first and second substrates by said columnar spacer;
• wherein said columnar spacer in said first step is tapered from the second substrate towards the first substrate in that portion of said columnar spacer which is positioned closest to said second substrate and has the largest diameter portion in the region other than that region of the columnar spacer which is positioned closest to said first substrate, the largest diameter portion having a shape defined by at least one radius of curvature, in a cross section taken along a height direction of the columnar spacer.