A gentleman of Chartres strolling near the Cathedral with his big shaggy dog |
The Sheep dog creates a sensation in the cathedral square. Who doesn't love a shaggy hound? |
The sublime geometry of an ancient Chartres household |
Central tympanum of the Royal portalhartres Cathedral: The simple pyramid of the south tower |
Chartres Cathedral: The ornate, flamboyant north tower |
Chartres Cathedral's west facade
The cathedral is in an exceptional state of preservation. The majority of the original stained glass windows survive intact, while the architecture has seen only minor changes since the early 13th century. The building's exterior is dominated by heavy flying buttresses which allowed the architects to increase the window size significantly, while the west end is dominated by two contrasting spires – a 105-metre (349 ft) plain pyramid completed around 1160 and a 113-metre (377 ft) early 16th-century Flamboyant spire on top of an older tower. Equally notable are the three great façades, each adorned with hundreds of sculpted figures illustrating key theological themes and narratives.
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Vintage buildings facing the south side of the cathedral |
A row of beautiful structures facing the cathedral's south side |
Chartres Cathedral: The south tower
Chartres Cathedral is probably the finest example of French Gothic architecture and said by some to be the most beautiful cathedral in France.The cathedral is a milestone in the development of Western architecture because it employs all the structural elements of the new Gothic architecture: the pointed arch; the rib-and-panel vault; and, most significantly, the flying buttress. The cathedral is also celebrated for its many stained-glass windows and sculptures. Because most of its 12th-and 13th-century stained glass and sculpture survives, Chartres Cathedral is one of the most completely surviving medieval churches.
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Chartres |
Old friends share beers and gossip at L'estaminet ("The Tavern") |
Medieval building, Chartres |
Carroll hones in on a biscuit shop. |
A shop to overwhelm the senses |
Chartres |
