CHARTRES: 01.VII.09

According to art historian Emile Male, "Chartres is the mind of the Middle Ages manifest." Begun in 1020, the Romanesque cathedral was destroyed by fire in 1194. Only the north and south towers, south steeple, west portal, and crypt remained; the sacred "Veil of the Virgin" relic was the sole treasure to survive.






Peasant and lord alike helped to rebuild the church in just 25 years. Has anyone read "Pillars of the Earth"? It takes on a whole new meaning when touring this cathedral.



Few alterations were made after 1250 and, fortunately, Chartres was unscathed by the Wars of Religion and the French Revolution.



The result is a Gothic cathedral with a true "Bible in stone" reputation.



These elongated statues on the Royal Portal represent Old Testament figures.

Chartres has some of the most beautiful examples of stained glass in France.  Donated by royalty, aristocracy, priests, and the merchant brotherhoods between 1210 and 1240, the glorious collection of stained glass is world-renowned.  Around 176 windows illustrate biblical stories and daily life in the 13th century.  During both World Wars the windows were dismantled piece by piece and removed for safety.

In the Grenier de Loens, next to the cathedral, is the Centre International du Vitraux (stained glass).

Each window is divided into panels, usually read from left to right, bottom to top (earth to heaven).  The number of figures or abstract shapes used is thought to be symbolic: three stands for divinity, while the number four symbolizes the material world or the four elements.