Chartres Cathedral, France

Medieval Gothic Architecture and Ancient French Village

Oct 14, 2009 Lorraine Syratt

Follow the pilgrims of the past to Chartres, south of Paris. Here, an ancient Gothic cathedral rises above the landscape and a historic medieval town.

Most tourists visit the town of Chartres, an hour south of Paris, to view the famous Gothic cathedral, but there is much more to this town and its environs. Chartres is an ancient town visitors need to take time to melt into using all their senses.

Visiting Chartres

Chartres sits on the banks of the Eure River in France with a flat plain to the south-east known as The Granary. The old town of Chartres is a walker's delight, with numerous medieval streets, passages and alleys to traverse. There are signs posted to assist the visitor in finding some of the more interesting attractions within the town.

Visit the many museums and other churches along the walk like St.Pierre, St. Aignan and the Chapel of St. Foy which is now a gallery devoted to Chartres. There are beautiful gardens, cloisters and stunning medieval architecture everywhere the visitor chooses to meander in this historic area of France. The town is slowly being restored into the medieval town it once was and therefore worth the visit.

Chartres Cathedral

Chartres Cathedral is easy to find when you approach the town. The Gothic spires tower as a landmark, as important now as it was during it's early history when pilgrims moved across the countryside to be blessed in the Cathedral. It is one of the most valuable treasures in France, built in the early 13th century in honor of the Virgin Mary.

Much of its claim to fame is that it's still standing. Unlike many large medieval buildings in Europe and Great Britain, Chartres survived history. It survived the religious wars of the 16th century and it survived the town's seizure by the Germans in 1870. It wasn't damaged until World War 11. The importance of Chartres Cathedral has given it inclusion as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Treasures of Chartres Cathedral

Among the treasures of Chartres Cathedral is the tunic Mary wore on the day Jesus was born, an amazing collection of statues, a well of miracles and the head of the Virgin Mary's mother, St. Anne. Find the labyrinth on the floor and follow the pilgrim's path. The best day to do this is on Fridays, when the seating is removed.

Chartres Cathedral also boasts a crypt with a number of medieval chapels containing more relics. No one is or every was buried in the crypt, nor in the cathedral. Early custom prevented it as they wanted to keep it purely dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

Chartres is a good jumping off point for day trips into the Loire Valley, so if visiting, consider spending a week at least in this beautiful town. It has many fine restaurants and has accommodation to suit every budget.

References

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Chartres and Chartres Cathedral