Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres - Chartres, France
Posted by: 
neoc1
N 48° 26.834 E 001° 29.224
31U E 388122 N 5367115
The Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres(Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres), a medieval Roman Catholic cathedral located about 80 kilometers from of Paris. The magnificent Cathedral was constructed between 1194 and 1250.
Waymark Code: WMHV94
Location: Centre-Val-de-Loire, France
Date Posted: 08/15/2013
Views: 33
The Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres is considered one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The current cathedral, mostly constructed between 1194 and 1250, is the last of at least five which have occupied the site since the town became a bishopric in the 4th century.
The church has an interesting history. It was begun in 1134, destroyed by fire in 1194, and then rebuilt. What remained after the fire were the lower parts of the west towers and the west portal. West façade is dominated by two asymmetrical spires. The south spire is completely original. It is a 349' (105m) high plain Romanesque pyramid dating from the 1140s. The flamboyant north spire is 377' (113m) high and exhibits a combination of late Gothic and early Renaissance characteristics. It was built on top of an older tower.
The cathedral survived the French Revolution in an exceptional state of preservation. The majority of the original stained glass windows survive intact. The façades, are adorned with hundreds of sculpted figures based on theological themes.
Name of Source Book: 1,000 Places To See before You Die
Page Location in Source Book: 121
Type of Waymark: Site
Location of Coordinates: Entrance to the Cathedral
Cost of Admission (Parks, Museums, etc.): 0.00 (listed in local currency)
List Available Hours, Dates, Season:
Hours:
Daily 8:30 am – 7:30 pm
Official Tourism Website: [Web Link]
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Visit Instructions:
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