With its history, inspiring architecture and beautiful
stained-glass windows, it is no wonder that Chartres Cathedral
is one of the most popular tourist attractions in France
along with the Eiffel Tower
and the Arc de Triomphe.
Located less than 100 kilometres outside of Paris,
Chartres Cathedral is considered a masterpiece of French
gothic architecture, a style that it shares with other
cathedrals in France including the famed Notre
Dame Cathedral.
As you approach the town of Chartres, you will notice two spires towering above the medieval city’s roofs. They belong to the two imposing towers, measuring a stately 105 metres and 113 metres, of Chartres Cathedral.
The site of the present Chartres Cathedral France has hosted no less than four other cathedrals that were destroyed by fire. One of the most devastating fires occurred when lighting struck the Chartres Cathedral in 1194. According to legend, the town’s people panicked as an ancient relic – the Sancta Camisia, a tunic of the Virgin Mary – was supposed to be inside. Luckily, priests were able to save the precious artefact. This was declared to be an auspicious sign, and it was decided that an even more glorious cathedral should be built on the site. Townspeople were so eager to help with the construction of Chartres Cathedral that many volunteered to haul the heavy stones located in quarries that were five miles away. The soaring structure, which took less than 30 years to build, incorporated the ancient Royal Portal which survived the 1194 fire and dates back to the 1140’s.
One of the main design features of the exterior of Chartres
Cathedral France is its numerous
flying buttresses. This structural feature is used to
accommodate the enormous windows that are located on the
inside of Chartres Cathedral. When you step inside its
doors, you will note that the upper walls of the choir
and nave are composed almost entirely of glass.
The light spilling into the Chartres Cathedral comes
from its stained-glass windows which date back as far
as the early 13th century. Chartres Cathedral is said
to contain one of the world’s most comprehensive
collections of medieval stained-glass. The cathedral was
originally fitted with 186 windows. During the Second
World War, the stained-glass windows of Chartres Cathedral
France were actually removed and hidden from harm in the
French countryside. Today, you’ll be able to see
the 152 that have survived. One of the most stunning features
of the Chartres Cathedral stained-glass is its vibrant
blue colour which can be fully appreciated by viewing
the Blue Virgin window. It is these beautiful windows
that help to make the cathedral one of the most popular
tourist attractions in France.
Another design feature that makes Chartres Cathedral one of the most popular tourist attractions in France is its labyrinth. Embedded in the pavement of the cathedral’s nave, the superb 131-foot wide labyrinth is 964 feet long and was walked by pilgrims and monks as a means of contemplation or repentance. Divided into four quadrants, pilgrims would walk its meandering path, gradually moving closer and closer to the rosette design as its centre which symbolizes enlightenment.
Admission to Chartres Cathedral is free of charge. The Cathedral is open daily from 8:30 am to 7:30 pm.
