Cathedral of Notre Dame in Chartres. Chartres Cathedral - a masterpiece of Gothic architecture

I’ll start my walks around one of the most beloved cities in France with the cathedral, which seems quite logical to me. This majestic building has been under constant restoration for several decades, which will ultimately help return the church to its medieval authentic appearance. The northern facade was restored in 1997-99, the southern facade (without portals) - 2007-08, the western facade (2008, 2010-2012). The interior has also been restored since 2008. The work should be completed by 2015.

Photos were taken in the summer of 2012 and 2013.

At the end of the post there are photos from the cathedral lighting show.

The first temple was built here in the middle of the 4th century. It was called the Aventine Cathedral after the first bishop of the city. The temple was apparently built at the foot of the Gallo-Roman wall that surrounded the city. It was destroyed by fire in 743 or 753 by Visigothic troops. After another reconstruction, begun in 859, Bishop Gilbert turned the church into a city cathedral. At the same time, King Charles II presented the cathedral with one of the most significant relics of Christianity - the veil of the Virgin Mary. During the revolution, the clergy divided the cover into several parts in the hope that at least one of them would survive. Indeed, when France calmed down, the largest piece was returned to the cathedral, and is still kept here.

The first cathedral burned down in 1020 and a Romanesque cathedral was built in its place. The work was supervised by Bishop Fulbert, who organized the famous Chartres School, a scientific center of the Middle Ages.

This cathedral stood until a severe fire in 1194. Only the crypt, part of the western facade and the lower tier of the towers survived the fire. Miraculously, the casket containing the veil of the Virgin Mary was not damaged.

In the same year, work began on the construction of a new cathedral. The drawings of the old one were taken as a basis, and its surviving fragments were built into the new building. The construction of the temple was basically completed in 1225, and its appearance has been preserved to this day. Only the northern tower was supplemented with a tent decorated with intricate stone lace at the beginning of the 16th century.

The new cathedral was consecrated in 1260 in the presence of King Louis IX Saint, and in honor of the Virgin Mary was named Notre-Dame de Chartres.

The main façade of the cathedral is western, framed by two bell towers. There were many statues located here: 24 large (19 have survived) and 300 smaller figurative elements that created a decorative decoration of the facade. The wall behind the statues is covered with patterns bearing the imprint of the Romanesque style that has not yet fallen - wickerwork, columns, acanthus leaves. The portal on this facade bears the honorary name of the Royal.

Due to the complex history of the cathedral's construction, its two bell towers are made in different styles: the north tower bears the imprint of typical early Gothic (with thick ribs and a conical silhouette), and is crowned with a spire in the Flame Gothic style, installed in the 16th century. And the south tower has a more classic Gothic appearance, being erected in mature period style. Its spire is more simple. This difference between the two bell towers is a unique feature of the building. This tower contains 7 bells, each of which has its own given name and voice.

The north portal dates from 1230 and contains sculptures of Old Testament characters.

On the northern façade there is a portal called the “Gate of the Covenant”. Here are scenes from Old Testament and the life of the Virgin Mary. Episodes from the Book of Genesis are carved on the central arch. The right part is devoted to the theme of “works and days.”

Presumably, statues of Blessed Isabella and her father Louis VIII on one of the portals of the cathedral.

There is also a 16th-century clock on the north side of the cathedral.

The southern portal, created between 1224 and 1250, is symmetrical to the northern one, tells about the Church, which relies on the apostles ( central part), saints (right) and martyrs (left).

The cathedral is famous primarily for its amazingly rich decor. There are almost 3,500 statues in the interior and façade, many of which are perfect examples of the Gothic style. There are 9 carved portals, the largest choir in France and the largest Romanesque crypt. The total area of ​​the cathedral's 176 stained glass windows is 2,600 square meters. m.

Renovated outpatient clinic:

The choir fence separates it from the outpatient clinic. It is entirely sculpted - 40 groups containing 200 statues, many of which were made by a master named Jean de Beauce, who began work in the early 16th century. Renaissance iconography is dedicated to episodes from the life of Jesus and the Virgin Mary. The cathedral contains a wooden statue of the Virgin dating from 1540, which was part of an enclosure destroyed in the 18th century.

The stained glass windows of Chartres Cathedral are very famous - both for their beauty and for the fact that it is the most significant single ensemble of windows preserved from the 13th century. They were mainly created in 1205-1240. Most of the windows were made while the cathedral was being rebuilt after a fire in 1194. The only ancient ones are the stained glass windows of the Abbey of Saint-Denis, commissioned by Abbot Suger in 1144-1151. Three windows on the western facade survive from the previous century - probably 1145-1155. An early window from 1180 also remains - on the south side of the ambulatory, depicting the Virgin Mary. It has a proper name - Our Lady of the Beautiful Glass (Notre-Dame-de-la-Belle-Verrière). This is one of the main, most famous stained glass windows of the cathedral.

The famous stained glass window of Notre-Dame de la Belle Verrière from the 12th century. It is on this that the amazing blue color has been preserved.

The main color of Chartres stained glass is intense blue, created using cobalt blue, the secret of its reproduction is now lost. Almost two hundred windows are important works of decorative art. Several windows were damaged and restored in subsequent centuries. In 1972, stained glass windows began to be cleaned of dirt, and work is still ongoing. The plots are traditional - from the Old and New Testaments, although motifs from the “Golden Legend” of Jacob Voraginsky were used. Among the motifs one can find zodiac signs, as well as references to the workshops that may have paid for the creation of these stained glass windows. The narrative in stained glass is generally read from bottom to top and left to right (with the exception of the Passion cycle, which is read from top to bottom). In addition to stained glass windows with traditional gospel scenes, it is interesting to look at the cycle of windows with the history of Charlemagne, and this ruler is not even a canonized saint. Saint-Denis has windows on similar subjects, such as the emperor's legendary journey to the east, during which the relics of the Passion were found. Stained glass windows in Chartres were invented based on the same ancient manuscripts, but with additions. The stories are very strange and unusual: for example, one of the windows is dedicated to Charlemagne’s repentance for the sin of incest with his sister, from whom Roland was born.

The rose window on the north transept facade depicts the Virgin and Child enthroned, surrounded by rays with doves, angels, kings and prophets. The rose window of the south transept is dedicated to scenes of the Apocalypse, as well as theological interpretations. At the center is Christ in glory.

Also unconventional are the stained glass windows in the Vendôme Chapel, which were paid for by Louis de Bourbon, Count of Vendôme, after a pilgrimage to Chartres and after the Battle of Agincourt, where he was captured. The chapel was built in 1417. Members of his family (including Queen Joan of Naples and Jean de Lusignan, King of Cyprus) and their patron saints are depicted here. Unfortunately, by 1700 they were already damaged, and during the French Revolution, images of members of the Vendôme family were destroyed. The images were redone in 1920 by the artist Albert-Louis Bonneau based on drawings from a private collection. One of characteristic features this stained glass cycle - large number donors who invested in the creation of these windows. These are not only kings (Louis VIII, Ferdinand III of Castile, Louis IX and Blanche of Castile), dukes and counts (Thibault VI, Count of Blois, Simon de Montfort), but also 30 guilds (carpenters, masons, bakers, furriers) that are depicted in everyday scenes that give a vivid picture of medieval guild society.

Interestingly, the wooden roof of the cathedral burned down in 1836; the following year it was replaced with copper sheets over a metal frame. The current appearance is the result of reconstruction carried out in 1997.

Decorations and sculpture of the cathedral when climbing one of the towers:

The temple crypts are the result construction work different periods and bear features of different architectural styles. Here you can see frescoes from the 12th century, 19th century, as well as modern paintings. The inner crypt is probably part of a structure built during the Carolingian era, in the 9th century. It bears the name of St. Luben and is located under the choir of the current cathedral, just below the altar. The outer crypt of St. Fulbert (also known as the lower church) runs in a semicircle from one tower to the other. Dating from the 11th century, it is 230 meters long and 5-6 meters wide, and is the largest crypt in France. Here is the Chapel of Our Lady of the Subterranean (Notre-Dame Sous-Terre) - perhaps one of the oldest sanctuaries dedicated to the Virgin Mary in Western Europe. There is a statue here, dated 1975, which reproduces an ancient statue probably burned by revolutionaries in 1793. It may have originally been a statue of the Mother Goddess from Gallo-Roman times. The other chapels in the underground crypt are three Romanesque and four Gothic (13th century). There is also the Saints-Forts well, the water of which, according to medieval belief, possessed miraculous power healing. In the southern gallery there are frescoes from the 12th century depicting popular saints - Clement, Aegidius, Martin, Nicholas. At the end of the southern gallery there is a stone font from the Romanesque period.

The hill on which Chartres Cathedral was built was a place of worship long before the advent of Christianity.

This hill was sacred long before the arrival of the Druids and served as a center of pilgrimage for thousands of years. What attracted the pagans here? What indicated to the Druids and those who were here before them that the land here was “holy”?

This is genius loci - the spirit of the place...

The spirit of the earth sometimes manifested itself in the form groundwater with magnetic properties or in the way, according to the beliefs of the ancients, the gods made themselves known.

Such places include Delphi, the Temple Hill in Jerusalem and the hill in Chartres. In these places you can find the most powerful telluric forces (energy flows, earth currents).

This is Spiritus Mundi, or spirit of the earth. Spiritus Mundi is so powerful that it can awaken certain hidden powers in a person. This has been believed since the times of the Druids, when the hill in Chartres was called the Hill of the Strong or the Hill of the Initiates...

This spirit of a place is so sacred that no physical influence can destroy it. Therefore, under no circumstances should the hill that stands in this place be desecrated. Chartres Cathedral is the only cathedral in France where not a single monarch, cardinal or bishop was buried. The hill remains undefiled to this day, as does the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

The presence of Spiritus Mundi in Chartres has been known since prehistoric times. The people who built the cathedral at the intersection of water currents, which enhance the effect of the “spirit of the place,” also knew about it.

According to some researchers, the power of this mystical energy place in Chartres is enhanced by a large loop of an underground river and fan-shaped underground channels converging at one point. There are several other places in the cathedral itself where energetic forces appear so noticeably that it can be felt physically.

Photos from the illumination show of the cathedral in the summer of 2013.

Chartres Cathedral (full name Notre Dame de Chartres) is located in the medieval city of Chartres, about 70 kilometers from Paris. The cathedral is one of greatest achievements in the history of architecture, as it is almost completely preserved in its original design and details. The portal sculpture of Chartres remains completely intact, and all the bright stained glass windows are exclusively originals. Thus, Chartres is the only cathedral that conveys an almost perfect image of what it looked like when it was built

In addition to its architectural splendor, Chartres Cathedral has been a major pilgrimage site since the early Middle Ages. Its venerable history and exquisitely preserved architecture create an atmosphere of reverence and holiness that amazes even the most non-religious visitors.

History of Chartres Cathedral

According to tradition, Chartres Cathedral has kept the tunic since 876 Holy Virgin Maria. It is believed that the relic of Sancta Cammission was given to the cathedral by Charlemagne, who received it as a gift during a trip to Jerusalem. Because of this relic, Chartres was a very important center of pilgrimage and believers still come here from different parts peace. The cathedral is one of several French Gothic masterpieces built after fires destroyed its predecessors. After the first cathedral burned down in 1020, a glorious new Romanesque basilica with a massive crypt was built under the direction of Bishop Fulbert and then Geoffroy de Leva.

The cathedral survived a fire in 1134, which destroyed much of the rest of the city. But he was not so lucky on the night of June 10, 1194, when lightning caused a huge fire that destroyed everything except the western towers, the facade and the crypt. People despaired when it seemed that Sancta Camisia too had perished in the fire. But three days later she was found unharmed in the treasury. The bishop considered this a sign from Mary herself and decided that another, more massive cathedral should be built in Chartres. Donations came from all over France, and restoration began almost immediately in 1194. The people of Chartres volunteered to help transport the stones from a quarry a few kilometers outside the city.

The construction project used the original architect's plans to maintain the harmonious aspect of the cathedral. Work began first on the nave, and by 1220 the main structure was completed, with the old crypt, west towers and west facade built into the new building. On October 24, 1260, the cathedral was finally dedicated in the presence of King Louis IX and his family. Chartres Cathedral was never destroyed or looted during the French Revolution, and numerous restorations have done nothing to alter its glorious beauty. The structure has always remained unchanged, as a great triumph of Gothic art. The cathedral was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979.

General Exterior of the Cathedral

From a distance, Chartres Cathedral seems to float in the air above the wheat fields, and only as you get closer it becomes clear that it is located on a hill. The plan of the Gothic cathedral is a Latin cross with three aisles, a short transept and an ambulatory. The rounded eastern end has five semicircular chapels. The high nave is supported by double-leaf buttresses supported by columns. The openings were equipped with niches in which sculptures were installed. An additional row of single buttresses supported the apse, and a third row was added in the 14th century. Chartres was the first building to use buttresses as a structural element, defining the overall appearance of the building. They were due to the unprecedented size of the windows and the height of the nave. All these features make Chartres one of the most beautiful cathedrals in France.

The only aspect that detracts from the elegant symmetry of Chartres Cathedral are the mismatched western spiers. The south spire is a simple 105-metre Romanesque pyramid dating from the 1140s, while to the north is a 113-metre early 16th-century Flemish Gothic spire atop an old tower. In addition to the famous west pediment, both transepts have large rose windows, flanking towers and three sculpted portals. This design was modeled on the rose window transepis at Laon Cathedral, but the three-portal layout is unique to Chartres. In total, Chartres Cathedral has nine portals, including three salvaged from the earlier cathedral on the west portal. Thus, it is not only one of the most beautiful, but also one of the most unusual cathedrals in the world.

Interior of Chartres Cathedral

Grace appearance Chartres Cathedral is complemented by the unique wonders that lie within. The spacious nave is the widest in France with a height of 36 m. There is an uninterrupted view from the western end directly to the magnificent apse to the east, 128 m away. Cluster columns rise sharply from the bases to the high pointed arches of the ceiling, directing the visitor's eye to the massive windows in the apse .

At the eastern end, the ambulatory is harmoniously arranged around the choir and sanctuary. Dramatic vaults share it with a magnificent carved choir. It was built in the 16th century and sculptures were gradually added over a long period between the 16th and 18th centuries. The sculptures depict scenes from the life of Christ and the Virgin Mary. On the south side of the chancel is an impressive astrological clock dating from the 16th century. They will tell you not only about time, but also about the day of the week, month of the year, the time of sunrise and sunset, the phase of the moon and the current zodiac sign. Its internal mechanisms were partially destroyed in 1793, but then restored.

The stone floor of the cathedral is still decorated with an ancient labyrinth (1205) for the monks to walk around and is still used by pilgrims for meditation. There is only one path in the maze, which is 964 feet long. According to John James, at the center of the labyrinth there once was a metal plate with the figures of Theseus, Ariadne and the Minotaur from the classic myth of the labyrinth on Minos.

Stained glass windows of Chartres Cathedral

Vibrant colors spill onto the floor from the cathedral's superb stained glass windows, which glow like jewels. At the beginning of the 13th century, the temple of Chartres Cathedral largely escaped damage during the religious wars of the 16th century. Today it is one of the most complete collections of medieval stained glass in the world. Depending on how you count, there are between 150 and 170 medieval stained glass windows in Chartres Cathedral.

The West Rose dates from the early 13th century, and its three windows date from 1150. The rose window depicts the Last Judgment: Christ on trial surrounded by four evangelists and angels, then scenes of angels, resurrection, condemnation, heaven and hell. The left lancet is the window of passion and resurrection; middle lancet - Window of the Incarnation. The Northern Rose and its five windows were a gift from Queen Blanche of Castile in 1230. The rose window depicts the glorification of the Virgin: the Virgin and child surrounded by doves and angels, as well as Old Testament kings and Old Testament prophets. Lancets, from left to right: Melchizadek and King Saul; King David and King Jeroboam; St. Anne and Child of Mary; King Solomon and King Nebuchadnezzar; Aaron and Pharaoh.

The South Roses and five lancet windows date from the 1230s. The rose window depicts the glorification of Christ: the blessing of Christ, then the elders of the Apocalypse. Lancet, from left to right: the evangelist Luke and the prophet Jeremiah; Evangelist Matthew over the prophet Isaiah; Virgo and child; Evangelist John over Prophet Ezekiel; Evangelist Mark over the Prophet Daniel. Another very notable stained glass window is the Blue Virgin window (Notre-Dame de la Belle Verrière), created around 1150.

The Cathedral of Notre Dame in Chartres is also called the “Glass Bible”. You can get to it by train, the journey will take no more than an hour. Chartres is a quiet provincial town that attracts tourists with its narrow streets, ancient houses, and arched bridges. Once you have visited here, you will never forget the buildings in the spirit of Roman rule and the magnificent views of the city canal. You get the feeling that you are in medieval Europe.

The main attraction of Chartres

The attraction that all tourists want to see and visit is the Cathedral of Our Lady. You can find it yourself by its tall, sharp spire, which is visible anywhere in the city.

This cathedral was built on the site of a sanctuary of Celtic priests; its history dates back to the 8th century, when an altar in honor of St. Mary of Chartres was built on this site. According to historical data, at the end of the 8th century the Shroud of the Virgin Mary appeared here, considered a precious relic of Christians. To this day, many parishioners of this cathedral come to venerate this unique relic and venerate it.

History of the Shroud of the Virgin Mary

Local residents know that the shroud appeared in Chartres at a time when King Charles II the Bald reigned in France. He donated it to the temple of the city of Chartres. The value of the shroud is invaluable, since ancient tradition says that it was the Virgin Mary who was dressed in it at the time of the birth of Jesus Christ.

This is also proven by the miraculous rescue of the relic in 1194, when there was a terrible fire, which destroyed the cathedral in Chartres. The Shroud at that moment was in the casket, which miraculously remained intact and unharmed, which is considered a miraculous sign from above.

Address: France, Chartres, rue Cloître Notre Dame, 16
Start of construction: 1194
Completion of construction: 1260
Coordinates: 48°26′50″N,1°29′16″E
Tower height: northern 113 m., southern 105
Main attractions: stained glass windows of the 12th-13th centuries

Just 1 hour by train from Paris, and the passenger arrives in the quiet, charming province of Chartres.

In the narrow streets of Chartres there are buildings preserved from the times of Roman rule and ancient half-timbered houses from the 12th century. There are arched bridges and picturesque views of the canal. But the main pride of Chartres is the handsome two-domed cathedral, decorated with amazing blue stained glass windows. Its huge sharp spire is visible from every corner of the city - behind houses, in the street gaps and from the windows of restaurants.

Western façade of the cathedral

Shroud of the Virgin Mary - relic of Chartres Cathedral

On the site of Chartres Cathedral, there has long been a sanctuary of Druids - Celtic priests. In the 8th century there already existed an altar built in honor of St. Mary of Chartres, and in 876, one of the most precious relics of Christianity appeared in Chartres - the shroud (cover) of the Virgin Mary.

Tradition says that it was in this robe that the Virgin Mary was dressed at the moment of the birth of I. Christ. The relic ended up in Chartres thanks to the French king Charles II the Bald, who donated it to the city temple.

View of the southern facade of the building

In 1194, there was a fire in the city that almost completely destroyed the first Chartres Cathedral, built in 1020, but the casket where the shrine was kept miraculously survived, and this event was considered a sign from above.

Record short construction

Construction of the new cathedral began immediately after the fire. Donations poured in from all over France. On a wave of enthusiasm, city residents worked for free in the quarries. Compared to other Gothic churches that took centuries to build, Chartres Cathedral was created in record time.

View of the north and south towers of Chartres Cathedral

By 1220, the main part of the building was ready, and on October 24, 1260, the temple was consecrated in the presence of King Louis IX. Some sources claim that the grandiose construction was financed by the Knights of the Templar Order.

Proponents of this hypothesis believe that the mysterious labyrinth of 1205, tiled on the floor of the cathedral, is marked with Templar symbols, which are also present on some other interior details.

Sculptures and stained glass - the treasures of Chartres Cathedral

South porch of Charts Cathedral

The grandiose Gothic temple, called Notre-Dame de Chartres has survived to this day almost in the same form in which it was built 800 years ago. The two towers of Chartres Cathedral are strikingly different from each other. The 113-meter North Tower rises on an ancient Gothic base and has an openwork spire decorated with intricate stone lace. The south tower, 105 meters high, is topped by a simple Romanesque spire in the shape of a pyramid. The facade of the cathedral is “carved” with bas-reliefs, and the interior is decorated with sculptures carved from stone.

North porch of Charts Cathedral

In total, Notre-Dame de Chartres has 10,000 sculptural compositions. Inside the cathedral there are colored stained glass windows of the 12th-13th centuries. The ensemble of Chartres stained glass windows is absolutely unique: 146 windows depict 1,359 different scenes. They tell about biblical events and about the lives of people of all classes - kings, knights, artisans, peasants. Apart from the large stained glass windows on the main façade's window roses and transepts, the most famous is the stained glass window depicting Our Lady in her vestment in a unique shade, "Chartres blue".

Chartres Cathedral in France is one of the most famous Gothic cathedrals. As already mentioned (), in the Middle Ages, in addition to official Christianity, there were hidden organizations whose task was to convey to people the true energies of God’s love without distortion of the church egregor.

What is now known about the early history of Chartres Cathedral is that it was destroyed and rebuilt several times after its founding in the early 900s. Initially, it carried within itself only the original images and energies of Christ and Mary, without reference to biblical stories. Later it was redesigned in accordance with the requirements of religion, but one of the original elements remained intact: this is the so-called Chartres Labyrinth.

The image of this structure goes back to level 143, to Mary in the Divine sphere. From there it is reflected fractally throughout the entire universe. At its core, this is a structure that is responsible for connecting people with the energies of God’s love. It corresponds to the levels of the universe: 11 concentric circles (143 times 11) and the center - the Absolute as the 12th element. There are 12 pyramids of the universe and 12 levels in the lower pyramid.

A structure similar to a labyrinth exists inside the heart chakra of every person, which is also one of the aspects of communication with God through the heart.

Movement through the labyrinth from the entrance to the center is both a special rhythm and a path that the energy of love takes in order to be realized in the universe. Having traced this path, we can consider in more detail which energies are activated and at what levels. Starting with the aspiration to God (“entrance”), a person is ignited at the level of the soul, experiences these energies (turn around the 6th level), then the upward flow is activated along the 11th level. At some point, the path approaches the goal, as if touching it, but then it moves away. After “touching” energy there is a long period of its comprehension, elaboration at all levels, and only after that, at a new level, the goal is achieved. This pattern also works in spiritual practices: many initially experience delight when they touch higher energies or knowledge, but then these sensations disappear, and then disappointment sets in. But falling into such experiences is a mistake: a person is simply at that stage of the path that is associated with working through the lower levels; in fact, no deviation from the path has occurred.

There were various practices associated with the labyrinth.

Main. 1) Focus on the heart chakra and direct a stream of light from it to the entrance to the labyrinth. 2) Slowly fill the entire labyrinth with this flow, gradually moving from beginning to end.
At first, vision may be constantly lost, or filling with the flow will not occur. You need to keep your attention on the flow and keep it in the right direction.
Where there are malfunctions, blockages in the heart center will emerge, negative moments from the past will emerge, personal qualities that prevent you from gaining a connection with the Absolute (maybe excessive grounding, egocentrism, disbelief or something else). You can mentally throw these manifestations out of your heart or dissolve them with light. If the reasons for the obstacles in the “labyrinth” do not emerge, you can set the intention to show them and increase the flow of radiation from the heart chakra.
In this way, the personal connection with the energy of God’s love is purified, in particular with the energy of Mary - for those who purposefully work with her energies.

A simpler practice, but with less opportunity to work out individual moments: direct the flow from anahata directly to the center of the flower in the labyrinth. The intention is to align with the energy of God's love. Next, carefully monitor the sensations, try to accept the incoming energies and strengthen the energy exchange with the flower with your will.

A well-known practice was carried out in the temple itself by everyone - the physical passage of the labyrinth. Since the temple was located in a place by a force associated with Venus - the conductor of the energy of love - this option already gave a feeling of higher energies.