Chartres is a wonderful French city situated on the bank of the Eure River. This settlement is located approximately 96 kilometers from the French capital. Chartres is situated in the geographical center of the country. For many tourists, Chartres is a “city of lights”. When the sun goes down, twenty-seven buildings in the city become participants of a marvelous light show that combines visual effects, sounds, and music. Due to its rich cultural and historical heritage, Chartres is an interesting place to visit for everyone interested in sightseeing. The Eure-et-Loir department (Chartres is its capital) is a picturesque place with many mesmerizing views.
In the past, Chartres was one of the main Celtic cities. With the start of the Gallo-Roman epoch, the city changed its name to Autricum. Later, it was famous as civitas Carnutum (the city of the Carnutes). The latter name later evolved to Chartres, the modern name of the city. Normans completely burned the city down in the middle of the 9th century. The city’s authorities rebuilt the settlement, and Chartres became an important center of trade in the Middle Ages. Later, Chartres gave its name to a whole county of the Blois family. During the Hundred Years’ War, the British managed to capture the city and own it for fifteen years starting from 1417.
Do you want to learn more about Chartres? The best way to do this is to visit the major attractions of the city. Chartres Cathedral is the first landmark that many tourists prefer to visit. The construction of the gorgeous building started yet at the end of the 12th century and lasted 31 years. This is one of the best-preserved Gothic cathedrals in the country. The cathedral consists of a basilica with three naves and two adjacent towers in the western part of the building.
The Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres is acclaimed for its unique stained-glass windows that cover an area of almost 2,700 square meters. Bright colors of the windows haven’t become pale over the centuries. If you take a closer look at them, you will notice pictures of different themes: scenes from the Bible and images of sponsors who donated their money for the cathedral.
There is a ring-shaped labyrinth in the middle. The length of this labyrinth is 258 meters, which is equal to the length of the road to Calvary that Jesus Christ walked for the crucifixion. In the past, Christians entered the church, fell down on their knees, and crawled in the labyrinth while saying prayers. This ritual was equal to the pilgrimage to Jerusalem in the past. According to a local legend, Virgin Mary put her cover on the cathedral, thus saving it from fires, damages, and unnecessary reconstructions.
When taking a stroll on the streets of Chartres, step into La Maison Picassiette. This is a one-of-a-kind building, the likes of which are not available anywhere else in the world. The artistic façade of the building is eye-catching, so it is impossible to pass the mansion by. The artist created a true masterpiece that has become an important landmark of Chartres. This is a fabulous example of naïve art. The skillfully made mosaic covers all outer walls of the mansion, creating a whole complex built in the same style.
Not only outer walls feature interesting mosaic. Inner walls, ceilings, floors, the garden, and inner yard – all of them are covered with identical mosaic pieces. To create this absolutely stunning architectural masterpiece, the artist used almost fifteen tons of such materials as ceramics, glass, plates, etc. All pieces form intricate patterns and are not just inserted chaotically. Tourists find it particularly exciting that even all furniture pieces inside the house have a similar mosaic. Initially, the master wanted to decorate walls only, but he got so inspired after seeing the result of his work that the thirty-year-old man couldn’t stop. It took him twenty-five years to complete the job.
Tourists can get to Chartres from the capital of France, Paris. Trains from the Montparnasse station to the right direction depart every hour. You will reach Chartres in one hour and nine minutes. By the way, there are double-deck trains that go to the city. If you enjoy looking at beautiful nature and scenic views in the train window, a ride on such a train will be very rewarding. French countryside is truly gorgeous.
