Notre Dame Cathedral of Chartres - An art museum

 Notre-Dame de Chartres is one of France's most famous cathedrals, not only for its distinctive Gothic design, but also for housing beautiful pieces of art.

Notre Dame Cathedral is located in Chartres, France, in the department of Eure-et-Loirr, approximately 80 kilometers southwest of Paris.

Notre-Dame de Chartres is one of the most intact of a succession of notable churches in the Eure-et-Loirr area, a French suburb.

History of the Church

Chartres was the Gol's capital in ancient times. Invading Normans devastated the city but were unable to conquer it in 858. The Chartres region became the fiefdom of several noble families in the 10th century before being included into the Royal realm. Since then, the emperors who awarded the dukes property here have frequently provided them land on which to build palaces. During King Louis 14's reign, he sent his brother Philippe Orlean here and named him duke of Chartres.

Many incidents occurred during the church's construction. The church was erected in the fourth century, but it was entirely destroyed in a fire in 473. The second church was completed in 858, but it was destroyed by fire in 1020.Soon later, in 1194, history repeated itself with the destruction of the third church. And, for the fourth time, the local administration has asked for people's and other parishes' help in raising funds. The new church was essentially erected in 26 years, however owing to the lengthy building period, the architecture of the church did not have the same uniformity as in past eras.

The architecture and interior of the cathedral include domes, columns, and carvings that demonstrate the elegance and sophistication in design, giving Notre Dame Cathedral an unmistakable beauty within the French church system.

The church that tourists see now was erected in the year 30 of the 13th century and was built constantly for 26 years; it is still being supplemented with small elements inside many years later. The pillars of the Church's west corridor are the surviving towers from the earlier construction, which was completed in the 12th century.

The church's main hall features three major doors, and above them are depictions of Jesus' life. The north and south doorways are adorned with Old Testament-themed statuary.The church's main hall features three major doors, and above them are depictions of Jesus' life. The north and south doorways are adorned with sculptures depicting Old Testament and customary Bible themes. The roof of the church is shaped like a spearhead and is made up of two antique steeples. 

The first attic was constructed in the 12th century, while the second was constructed four centuries later in the 16th century. The second steeple was constructed by Yehan de Beauce, who designed the bell tower in Gothic style with Renaissance elements. Yehan de Beauce also designed the stone railing that now surrounds the choir. The catacombs beneath the cathedral were constructed over two centuries, from the 9th to the 13th.

The catacombs beneath the cathedral were constructed over two centuries, from the ninth to the eleventh.

The sanctuary of the cathedral is broader and taller than that of previous churches. The church features a gate, a hall (main hall), and seven unequal spaces on the east and west wings. The overall area of the cathedral's core is 580 m2, with a height of 36.55 meters.

The church's entry is likewise based on a biblical theme, with a statue of Jesus in the arms of Our Lady of the Synod, Saint Anne and the Virgin Mary, Saint Pierre, Saint Baptiste, Saint Jean... The top of the archway also depicts God creating the world via the lives of Adam and Eve.

Despite its gorgeous and distinctive construction, the stained glass trusses are what made the chapel renowned. Stained glass was opaque and black like a jewel in the Middle Ages, rather than translucent and bright. When entering the church, it takes some time to adjust to the light levels; this difficulty is a particularly distinctive aspect of Notre Dame.

Notre Dame Cathedral in Chartres has not received much attention in recent years, yet it has been famed for its stained glass artworks since the 13th century. The four oldest glass panels in this building originate from the middle of the VIII century, and there are a total of 173 glass panels set in windows with a total surface of up to 2,000 m2. Light from the outside flows through the glass windows, creating a rainbow of hues within the church: red, blue, green, yellow, purple... 

Each of the glass artworks illustrates an event from the Bible or Church history. Because of the glass paintings, this facility resembles a vast library or a museum rather than a church. All of the glass paintings combined to create a lovely, calm landscape, softening the mood.All of the glass paintings combined to create a lovely, calm landscape, softening the sombre aura of churches.

If you visit France nowadays, you will notice that Notre-Dame de Chartres is usually a top choice destination, not only because it is famous, but also because the architecture and works in the cathedral are the most beautiful. A work of art.