The Chartres cathedral was built between 1194-and 1250 AD. The cathedral has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984. The cathedral was designed by two French architects, Viollet le Duc and Durand de Boulogne. The cathedral stands at the highest point in the city and can be seen from miles around. The cathedral is composed of three parts; the nave, the choir, and the transepts. The cathedral's construction was funded by donations from the people and is considered to be the largest church building constructed before the High Middle Ages. Its construction began under Bishop Pierre de la Trinité who had been appointed by Pope Innocent III. Construction lasted approximately 70 years until it was completed.
The cathedral has two towers, one in front and one behind the nave. The cathedral’s west façade is covered with sculptures and paintings depicting scenes from the life of Christ. several stained glass windows were created in England, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, and Spain. The cathedral has been described as the finest example of French Romanesque architecture. Its style is known as Early Gothic. The cathedral has three naves separated by columns. The first two are supported by eight pillars each and the third by four. Each pillar supports only half of the weight of the nave above. The cathedral's exterior is covered in pink sandstone from the area of Caen, France. Some people believe this color came about because the stone was crushed by the feet of crusaders who were returning home after their successful conquest of Jerusalem. Others say it was a deliberate choice to symbolize the blood shed by the pilgrims who had traveled to the Holy Land.
The cathedral's façade is divided into five bays. There are Saint Michael, Saint Gabriel, Saint Louis, Saint Catherine, and Saint Roch statues in the middle bay. These statues represent the patron saints of the city of Chartres. He used the same technique he had perfected at Reims Cathedral. His design consisted of 1,200 pieces of glass, weighing over 2 tons. The stained glass windows are unique in that they contain no lead. Instead, they use a special type of glass that does not break down with age. The cathedral's interior contains many amazing features. This magnificent window is located over the crossing and dates back to 1225. It consists of nearly 5,000 individual pieces of colored glass. The colors are derived from natural pigments. The artist who designed the window died before he could finish it.
The cathedral has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to the unique combination of architectural styles incorporated into the structure. It is considered to have the finest example of the French gothic style. The overall design of the cathedral incorporates elements of both the Romanesque and Gothic styles. The nave contains three levels of windows that are divided into five bays. Each bay features a different motif, symbolizing the five senses. The first level represents the eye, the second level represents the ear, the third level represents the nose, and the fourth level represents the mouth. There is no fifth level since architecture does not represent the sense of taste.
These windows were created by artists known as the Master of Flémalle. They depict the story of Jesus' birth, the temptation of Christ, the crucifixion, and the resurrection. The choir area contains numerous statues and carvings representing biblical stories. Some of these sculptures include Adam and Eve, Noah's Ark, Daniel in the Lion's Den, Moses parting the Red Sea, David slaying Goliath, Jonah, and the Whale, and the Last Judgment.
