Chartres Cathedral: 7 Things To Know About This Gothic Gem
The Chartres Cathedral is a gem of Gothic architecture listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979. Nearly a quarter of a century after its closure in the early 2000s, the cathedral's treasure will once again be revealed to the public starting from September 21, 2024. Here are 7 things to know about this incomparable monument.
1- It is the best-preserved Gothic cathedral in France.
The Chartres Cathedral is not only the most famous monument in this city of Eure-et-Loir but also one of the most representative buildings of Gothic architecture.
A perfect illustration of the art of the 12th and 13th centuries, Notre-Dame de Chartres is the best-preserved Gothic cathedral in France. This is why it was the first monument listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, in 1979.
It is also a place steeped in history: Henry IV is the only king of France to have been crowned in Chartres Cathedral instead of Reims, as tradition dictated. On this occasion, the monarch is said to have uttered the phrase "Paris is well worth a mass" and converted to Catholicism.
2- It was built in just 30 years.
The current Chartres Cathedral was built at the beginning of the 13th century on the ruins of a previous Romanesque cathedral, destroyed in a fire in 1194.
This Gothic-style jewel is the work of builder companions, the Children of Solomon, associated with the Order of the Temple. They constructed this magnificent cathedral in record time as the majority of the construction was completed in only 30 years.
The current cathedral is the result of seven constructions from different eras. It is located on the site of a Druidic place of worship in the land of the Carnutes. The parts of the foundations that were not filled in form two concentric crypts that can be visited. Notably, one can see a statue of a "Black Madonna and Child," a replica of a medieval statue whose original has been lost.
3- It is recognized by its two towers of different styles.
Among the Gothic cathedrals of France, Chartres Cathedral is recognized by the architectural style differences between its two towers:
- The north tower features an early Gothic base topped with a later flamboyant spire from the 15th century.
- The south tower, on the other hand, has a typically Gothic base topped with a very simple spire.
Among its most remarkable features, it should also be noted that the cathedral houses:
- a nave that is 37 meters high and 16.40 meters wide.
- 176 stained glass windows.
- a choir screen rich with 200 statues.
In 1836, a fire destroyed the old wooden framework. The roof of the cathedral was then rebuilt in cast iron with a copper covering, which is one of the unique features of this building.
4- It houses remarkable stained glass windows.
The Cathedral of Chartres boasts the most complete set of ancient stained glass windows preserved in France. These windows, mostly dated between 1205 and 1240, are remarkably well-preserved and feature inimitable blues.
"Notre-Dame-de-la-Belle-Verrière" (dating from 1180) and the three lancets on the west facade (between 1145 and 1155) are the oldest stained glass windows, remnants of the Romanesque cathedral.
In total, the 176 stained glass windows of the cathedral, including small roses, cover an area of 2,600 m². The large rose, with a diameter of 13.36 meters, is one of the largest in the world.
An astonishing labyrinth is depicted on the ground.
Among the singularities of the Chartres Cathedral, it is essential to mention the labyrinth, a circular geometric figure inscribed across the entire width of the paving of the main nave, between the third and fourth bays.
This work, dating from the 12th century, features a continuous path of 261.55 meters unfolding in a succession of turns and arcs of concentric circles. The path taken presents exactly the same sequence of turns and arcs, whether starting from the center or the outside of the figure.
This labyrinth would represent the symbolic path that leads man to God, and its center would symbolize the City of God. Pilgrims are invited to follow the line traced before them to ascend towards the choir of the cathedral.
6- This cathedral is a place of pilgrimage
Notre-Dame de Chartres is an important pilgrimage site and a stop for pilgrims traveling to Santiago de Compostela via the route connecting Paris to Tours.
Indeed, Charles the Bald, Emperor of the West, offered a relic called the Veil of the Virgin to the Chartres Cathedral in 876. This veil, which tradition identifies as the garment Mary wore during the Annunciation, is displayed in the ambulatory on the north side, in one of the apsidal chapels.
7- The cathedral's treasure can once again be admired.
Starting from September 21, 2024, nearly a quarter of a century after its closure in the early 2000s, it is once again possible to admire the treasure of the Notre-Dame de Chartres Cathedral.
After a long process of studies and restorations, nearly 150 objects or sets of objects dedicated to the celebration and ornamentation of the divine service are displayed in the upper chapel, the chapter house, and the two turrets of the building.
This new presentation of the treasure of the Notre-Dame de Chartres Cathedral required no less than 7 years of work: enough to offer this treasure a wonderful setting!
