Chartres - Cathédrale Notre-Dame

There have been five cathedrals on this site. One was destroyed by Visigothic troops mid of the 8th century. The successive cathedral was burnt down by Vikings ("Danes") in 858. The carolingian structure that was erected within the next decades was burnt down in 962 by troops led by Richard I of Normandy (aka "Richard the Fearless", "Richard Sans-Peur").

The rebuilding started again, but whatever was completed got destroyed by a fire, caused accidently, in 1020. The erection of a Romanesque cathedral started and most of the still existing crypt dates back to that building.

In 1134, another fire damaged the town and large parts of the cathedral. The towers got repaired and rebuilt and the portal between them got created. Another blaze hit the town in June 1194. The cathedral was burnt down. Construction works started the same year. The western towers and the undamaged western portal ("Portail Royal") got integrated into the new building.

The nave was already vaulted in 1220, the transept and the stained windows were completed in 1260. On 24 October 1260, only 66 years after the start of construction, the Cathédrale Notre-Dame was consecrated in the presence of Louis IX of France (aka "Saint Louis", "le Prudhomme").

Since Charles the Bald, Louis the Pious´ son, had given the "Sancta Camisia" to the cathedral in 876. Because of this "Veil of the Virgin" Chartres developed into a very important Marian pilgrimage center in medieval times.

The cathedral has been fortunate in being spared the damage suffered by so many during the Wars of Religion, the Revolution and even WWII. In 1939, just before the German army invaded France, all medieval galls windows were removed, so the 176 medieval windows stayed intact.

The oldest of these windows date back to ab 1150. They had been installed already the preceding cathedral, that burnt down. The most stained glass windows seen here were created between 1215 and 1240.

The Nativity

Mary watches the baby in the manger. Joseph has fallen asleep. The Star of Bethlehem is already over the scene, three visitors are approaching the place.. .