About the Chartres, the Jewel of Gothic Cathedrals Walk in Paris
Chartres Cathedral, the crown jewel of Gothic art and architecture, is located in the picturesque French countryside, just over an hour from Paris by train.
This 4-hour excursion, led by a medievalist or art historian, provides an unparalleled overview not only of Gothic architecture, sculpture, and stained glass, but also of medieval religious, secular, and intellectual life, an excellent pair to our Paris medieval walks or our Saint-Denis or Rouen excursions.
Starting from the Montparnasse station, your docent will recount the cathedral's riveting history on the train. In a dazzling display of architectural unity, the bulk of Chartres Cathedral was rebuilt after the large fire of 1194, from which the precious relic of the Virgin's tunic miraculously survived. Less than 30 years later, most of the present-day Cathedral was complete. Arriving at the Cathedral, we will start by having a look at the exterior. The three heavily decorated entrances (west, north, and south), each compris
read more
Chartres Cathedral, the crown jewel of Gothic art and architecture, is located in the picturesque French countryside, just over an hour from Paris by train.
This 4-hour excursion, led by a medievalist or art historian, provides an unparalleled overview not only of Gothic architecture, sculpture, and stained glass, but also of medieval religious, secular, and intellectual life, an excellent pair to our Paris medieval walks or our Saint-Denis or Rouen excursions.
Starting from the Montparnasse station, your docent will recount the cathedral's riveting history on the train. In a dazzling display of architectural unity, the bulk of Chartres Cathedral was rebuilt after the large fire of 1194, from which the precious relic of the Virgin's tunic miraculously survived. Less than 30 years later, most of the present-day Cathedral was complete. Arriving at the Cathedral, we will start by having a look at the exterior. The three heavily decorated entrances (west, north, and south), each comprised of three doorways, show the stylistic transition from Early to High Gothic through jamb and tympanum sculptures. The sculpted voussoirs, which display figures such as Aristotle, Euclid, and Pythagoras, are testaments to the presence of the prestigious Cathedral School of Chartres, the most famous school in the West during the twelfth-century renaissance.
Inside the Cathedral, we can see more original thirteenth-century stained glass than anywhere else in France. In addition to the fascinating narratives about Biblical figures and saints, many of the lower panels of the windows depict different tradesmen: wine-makers, shoe-makers, furriers, butchers, bakers, etc., which, regardless of their (often varied) interpretations, give us a wonderful glimpse into medieval daily life.
Chartres is as fulfilling for the modern visitor today as it must have been for the medieval pilgrims who traveled there to honor the Virgin Mary, to whom the Cathedral is dedicated. Our tour with your docent ends with the guided visit of the Cathedral, however, we encourage you to have lunch or spend the rest of the afternoon visiting the charming town and all of its attractions on your own.
If you would like to extend your time with the docent to include a visit to the Cathedral's crypt, the Stained Glass Museum, the nearby Church of Saint-Pierre, and a walk through the town, please let us know and we can provide you with an additional quote.
