Thursday 29 November 2012

A Day Trip from Paris...Chartres

Way back in August, Pierre and I took the train to Chartres about an hour or so from Paris.

We had long wanted to visit  Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres....a magnificent structure built in high Gothic style dating from the 12th century.....widely considered to be the finest Gothic cathedral in France....and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It's a wondrous cathedral....with heavy flying buttresses, original stained-glass windows still intact, and beautifully sculpted figures on the facade.  Pilgrims continue to flock to this cathedral today....it's very special.

No matter how many times I visit these cathedrals I can never get my mind around just how they did it....the architectural design, skill, and sheer perseverance is breathtaking even for the 21st century....but they did it way back in medieval times.  Truly amazing!
Notice the two different spires...one was built in the 12th century and the other, more flamboyant
spire built in the 16th century.
Who was the medieval stonemason who carved this
I wonder?
Look at the drapes and pleating....aren't they superb?
There was a peacefulness about Chartres....perfect for contemplation and reflection.
The labrinth on the floor of the nave in the cathedral (it has the above design),
 is intricately constructed in black marble...
and pilgrims, to this day, come to pray and walk the labrinth.  
Chartres is a quaint little city too.
It's a lovely place for lunch and to have a stroll before
heading back to the density and fast pace of Paris.
Things are just a bit slower in Chartres...which is nice.
A bientot Chartres......it was such a pleasure to visit.

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4 comments:

  1. You are making me so envious - those photos..........history is such a wonder isn't it.

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  2. What a wonderful day trip! I have only been to Chartres twice but I love it, the town the the cathedral and the history are wonderful. Absolutely beautiful photos!

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  3. The stone carving is absolutely fascinating. Bit by bit for several hundreds years in a row. Mastery and dedication are amazing. What a great legacy to be proud of.

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  4. What an enchanting place Chartres must be. I love the way you capture our favorite rust colour against ancient stone. Merci,Robyn. Jude

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