2 days in Chartres, France - 09/22/2023-9/23/2023

Chartres Cathedral continuation-9/22/2023

Chartres Cathedral contains 176 stained-glass windows, the feature for which it may be best known. Like the sculpture, the stained glass was intended to be educational. The five windows of the choir hemicycle (a semicircular arrangement) relate in various ways to the Virgin Mary. The rose window in the north transept portrays figures from the Old Testament. The south transept, which is representative of the New Testament, has a rose window depicting the Apocalypse.

The Apse, a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault is simply gorgeous.

Hemispherical vault with amazing stained glass windows.

The altar with L'Assomption (1773), the marble statue adorning the altar.

People attending mass

There are really a lot of people attending mass

This is the South gate

The beautiful south Rose window

The South Rose widow depicting Christ in his glory holding a chalice representing the Eucharist and blessing us with his right hand.  He is surrounded by angels and the 4 evangelist symbols (winged man, lion, ox and eagle)

Closer view of the stained glass window

Panoramic view of the Chancel Screen and the ambulatory

The cathedral of Chartres has the larges collection of sculpture from the 13th century that is exceptionally well conserved.

The Choir Screen in the ambulatory carries over 40 niches containing large figure sculptures depicting the key events of the live of Mary and Jesus from the Nativity to the Resurrection.

The sculptures became the greatest reference of French religious masterpieces in the 16 to 18th century.

Sculptures of the choir screen view from the ambulatory.

Biblical scenes on carved choir screen

The coronation of the Virgin circa 1516.

Intricate pillar design.

There are a total of 7 chapels along the ambulatory.

Le Round Point (The Hemicycle)

Our Lady of the Pillar Chapel (Notre dame du pillier)

Polychrome wood statue dates back to the 16th century.  Mary's crown was added during the papacy of Pius XI in 1955.

We are now leaving the cathedral.

Exiting the cathedral.

NEXT... Ryan and Thomas's wedding