Chartres Cathedral is considered the most elegant and best-preserved Gothic cathedral in France and Europe, for which it was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It has survived from the end of the 13th century to the present day practically untouched. It escaped destruction and robbery, and was not thoroughly restored or rebuilt. Crowds of pilgrims stopped at this place on their way south to the monastery of Santiago de Compostela in Spain. The cathedral is still a complete mystery, only not spoken orally, but embodied in stone, stained glass windows and a labyrinth laid out on the floor, personifying the believer’s path to God. With a diameter of about 13 meters, the road to the center reaches more than two hundred meters. Pilgrims crawled through it on their knees with prayer (261 meters! ).
Since 876, the main relic of the cathedral - the veil of the Virgin Mary - has been kept in Chartres. According to legend, it was in this robe that the Mother of God was dressed at the time of the birth of Christ.
Amazingly beautiful stained glass windows of the cathedral. Their total area is about two thousand square meters. It still remains a mystery how the famous blue shade of stained glass, the so-called bleu de Chartres, was obtained. To this day it is impossible to reproduce it.
In 1589, breaking a centuries-old tradition, it was here, and not in Reims, that Henry IV, the first Bourbon on the royal throne of France, was crowned.
The cathedral contains gematria, a coded Hebrew script used to record ritual religious phrases.
The carved decorations of the Royal Portal, the rose window above it, and the carved altar wall are very famous.
The cathedral also has one of the largest crypts, but, unfortunately, it was closed to the public.
This place has a special aura, even if you are not religious, it is worth visiting.
Since 876, the main relic of the cathedral - the veil of the Virgin Mary - has been kept in Chartres. According to legend, it was in this robe that the Mother of God was dressed at the time of the birth of Christ.
Amazingly beautiful stained glass windows of the cathedral. Their total area is about two thousand square meters. It still remains a mystery how the famous blue shade of stained glass, the so-called bleu de Chartres, was obtained. To this day it is impossible to reproduce it.
In 1589, breaking a centuries-old tradition, it was here, and not in Reims, that Henry IV, the first Bourbon on the royal throne of France, was crowned.
The cathedral contains gematria, a coded Hebrew script used to record ritual religious phrases.
The carved decorations of the Royal Portal, the rose window above it, and the carved altar wall are very famous.
The cathedral also has one of the largest crypts, but, unfortunately, it was closed to the public.
This place has a special aura, even if you are not religious, it is worth visiting.
Translated automatically from Russian. View original
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