October 17: Chartres Cathedral Dedicated (1260)
Prayer Idea
Pray for artists seeking to use their skills to honor God.
History Note
The town of Chartres lies on the west bank of the Eure River southwest of Paris. The first church building there dated from the 300s. The Duke of Aquitaine burned the first building in 743 during one of the many wars in the area. Danish Viking invaders set the second church building on fire in 858. The church was damaged by fire three more times in the 12th century.
The current Chartres cathedral was primarily built from 1194 to 1220. The Roman Catholic Church held a formal consecration ceremony on October 17, 1260, with King Louis IX of France in attendance.
The full name of the cathedral is Notre-Dame d’Chartres (Our Lady of Chartres). Notre Dame is Latin for Our Lady and refers to Mary, the mother of Jesus. Church leaders claim that a relic held in the cathedral is the veil of Mary. This relic made the cathedral a popular pilgrimage destination during the Middle Ages.
The limestone cathedral is 427 feet long and 112 feet tall. It is considered one of the best examples of Gothic French architecture. One feature of the interior of Chartres Cathedral is a labyrinth in the nave. Pilgrims could follow a route 859 feet long around eleven bands of concentric circles, symbolizing the journey through life.
Chartres Cathedral features an array of statues, including figures from the Old and New Testaments and people recognized as saints by the Roman Catholic Church. The cathedral also has 186 magnificent stained-glass windows, the greatest collection of medieval stained glass in France.
Chartres Cathedral displays the dedication, sacrifice, and talent of hundreds of workers who sought to honor God by creating this impressive structure.
Aerial view of Chartres Cathedral (2023). Photo by Altosvic / Shutterstock.com.
Learn More
Take a virtual tour of Chartres Cathedral.
Find more resources at Homeschool History.
