The blue of Chartres.
A Timeless Work of Art.
Following Romanesque art, Gothic art began, observed in the statuary of portals. It has an extra soul, Notre Dame de Chartres with its 172 stained glass windows whose blue radiates. Like all Gothic constructions, it aspires towards the sky, with its dizzying spires, it seeks to reach God. The divine light must penetrate the building, reflecting on the faithful. And then the stained glass windows narrate the life of God for those who do not read. But how does it manage to be so airy? It plays with forces and thrusts, or rather, it defies the laws of gravity. New elements such as columns or flying buttresses make this architectural daring possible.
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, it is a cornerstone of our heritage. Henri IV was crowned there, and many statesmen have gathered there. General de Gaulle visited when Chartres was liberated by the Americans in August 1944. Similarly, Georges Pompidou inaugurated its great organs in 1971. Among the devotees are also the sculptor Rodin or his friend the poet Rilke.
Like all Gothic constructions, it soars towards the sky, with its dizzying spires, it seeks to reach God
The History of Notre Dame de Chartres.
The crypt.
Yet the cathedral as you see it is the seventh structure on this site. Let's delve into its crypt, its bowels to go back in time. You already notice the presence of Gallo-Roman remains and a Carolingian wall. Soon you are overwhelmed by the size of the crypt and rightly so; it rivals St. Mark! You are surrounded by stone and the impression it gives off is that of the oceanic feeling. Remember, this is the hallmark of Romanesque art, a style that is both uncluttered and mystical.
Built by Fulbert in 1020, the church welcomed pilgrims. In this subdued atmosphere, you move towards a curtain of light. It is an interpretation of the rood screen - this boundary between liturgical space and nave. To whom should this minimalist work be attributed? To the German artist Udo Zembok who designed glass filters in pastel colors that allow light to pass through.
The stained glass windows.
More than anywhere else, the art of stained glass flourished in Île-de-France. From the 12th century onwards, master glassmakers benefiting from a peaceful context were able to establish their temporary workshops permanently. In total, there are more than 170 stained glass windows adorning the facades of the cathedral, some 2600 m2! Have you noticed that not all the blues are the same? Do you prefer the lighter blue found in the Blue Virgin: Our Lady of the Beautiful Window?
This tone belongs to the Romanesque style and is obtained from cobalt blue and sodium acid. During the Gothic period, the blue changes composition and darkens! Fortunately, the fire of 1194 did not damage this stained glass window. During World War II, the stained glass windows were stored in the crypt, and due to the advance of the Germans towards Chartres, they were transferred to a cave in Périgord! Why not attend the illuminations offered by Chartres en lumières to appreciate the nuances of the stained glass at night?
The maze.
Most likely, the singer Sting, a great admirer of the cathedral, had the labyrinth tattooed on his body… I'll let you search for the layout of the labyrinth in the central nave! For your information, it is made of white tiles and meanders wildly. In the past, it was traversed by pilgrims in as much time as it took to walk a league (5 km)! It was at Easter that one could observe a singular ballet… According to Gilles Fresson, coordinator of the cathedral: "In the choreography that took place in the Middle Ages, Christ (Theseus) traverses the underworld (the labyrinth), confronts Satan (the minotaur), triumphs over the powers of death, offering his light (yellow) to all those who are ready to receive it: a sure path (the clew) to eternal life. Christ, at Easter, becomes the firstborn from the dead."
The gateways.
The Royal Portal, whose sculptures are attributed to the Master of Chartres, is the work of a contemporary of the builder of the Saint Denis basilica. From an iconographic point of view, elements from both the Old Testament, such as the Queen of Sheba on the columns, and the New Testament with the life of Jesus and Mary in the horizontal frieze, as well as the mysteries of faith including the Last Judgment, are distinguished.
The South portal, for its part, offers a history of the cathedral's construction. It's up to you to look, hidden there are both Saint Nicholas and Saint Fulbert, the bishop to whom the Romanesque church is attributed.
Finally, the North portal, also called the Portal of the Alliance, recounts the Old Testament rich with its 10 sculptures and displays John the Baptist. You can easily identify him by the blue hue of his halo and the green of the dragon's back at his feet...
The arrows.
The last privilege of Gothic architecture is its spires and belfry. You all remember the fall of the spire of Notre Dame de Paris, constructed by Violet le Duc in the 19th century and criticized at the time. It was about 96 meters high. Is there a more representative architectural element of Gothic architecture signifying the ascent to God than the spire?
The North Spire of Chartres Cathedral, which represented a technical feat at the time of its construction in 1160, was described by Charles Péguy as an impeccable spire. As it rises into the sky, it tapers. To protect it from the weather, it is covered with fish scales.
As for the South Spire, it houses the cathedral's bells, the oldest of which dates back to the 16th century. Did you know? The bells usually have names!
NB: If you are curious to venture into the attics, the wooden framework that had burned down was replaced in the 19th century by a metal structure.
In order to protect it from the weather, it is covered with fish scales.