Chartres

Cathedral

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Ar. Anusha Patil
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• Located in the city of Chartres – France
• The chartres cathedral construction was started in 1134 during the early gothic period and
was destroyed by fire in 1194.
• The cathedral was designed by Bishop Fulbert and Geoffrey de Lives.
• The structure was completed in 1220.
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PLAN 1. Like most of the other churches in
western Europe, Chartres
Cathedral was also built on the
“Latin cross plan” with projecting
transept marking the transition
from nave to sanctuary.

2. The main entrance portal was

generally on the west.

3. The choir and apse were on the

east.

4. A narthex led to the nave and side

aisles.

5. An ambulatory with radiating

chapels circled the apse and
facilitated the movement of
worshippers through the church.

6. Above the nave were a triforium

passageway and windowed
clerestory.

7. Narthex, side aisles, ambulatory

and nave usually had rib vaults in
the gothic period.
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 8. Church walls were decorated inside and out
with arcades of round and pointed arches,
engaged columns & colonnettes and
horizontal mouldings called stringcourses.

9. The roof was supported by a wooden

framework.

10. The buttress piers and flying buttresses that

countered the outward thrusts of the
interior vaults were visible on the outside.

11. Portal facades were customarily marked by

high, flanking towers or gabled porches
ornamented with pinnacles and finials.

12. Architectural sculptures generally covered

each portals tympanum, archivolts and
jambs.

13. A magnificent stained glass rose window

typically formed the centrepiece of the
facades.

14. More stained glass filled the tall, pointed

lancet-shaped aisle and clerestory
windows.

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Cross section West Elevation

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THE EXTERIOR OF CHARTRES CATHEDRAL
1. The monumental façade standing to the west is
impressive by its soaring height, emphasised by
the two high towers that frame it.
2. The three large 12th century stained glass
windows overhang the royal portal.
3. They were inspired by Romanesque art. The
upper part of the façade was added when the
Gothic cathedral was built after the 1194 fire.
4. Above it is located the opening of rose window
which illustrates the Last Judgement from the
inside.
5. The rose window is topped by a Gallery of Kings
and a gable, where you can see the Virgin with
Child, then at the top Christ blessing.

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THE ROYAL PORTAL (western façade)

• The royal portal constitutes the main

entrance of the cathedral.
• This triple portal there is the oldest of
the three portals of Chartres
Cathedral.
• Surrounded by the North Tower and
South Tower, it displays a considerable
group of sculptures: 19 large statues
(24 originally) and more than 300
figures form a decor in harmony with
the architecture of the cathedral.

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 THE ROYAL PORTAL (western façade)
• The portal to the left is dedicated to •
the rise of Christ and announces the
Return of Christ.
• The central portal has a theme based
on the Book of Revelation. It
represents Christ in his glory •
surrounded by his apostles.
The centre of the tympanum
presents Christ enthroned within
a mandorla (an almond-shaped
halo), surrounded by the symbols
of the Four Evangelists.
The lintel depicts the Twelve
Apostles while the archivolts
portray the 24 Elders of the
Apocalypse.
• The right portal portrays the
earthly incarnation of Christ.
• The lintel is carved with scenes of
the Annunciation, Visitation,
Nativity, Annunciation to the
Shepherds, and the Presentation in
the Temple.
• The tympanum portrays the Virgin
and Child surrounded by archivolts
carved with allegories of the Seven
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Liberal Arts.
The Towers of the Cathedral
• The North Tower, known under the name
of Clocher Jehan de Beauce (Jehan de
Beauce Bell Tower), has a primitive Gothic
base (with thick buttresses and reduced
opening).
• The spire was added in the 16th century
and is of Flamboyant Gothic style.
• It reaches 115 metres at its highest point.
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• The South Tower (the Romanesque bell tower),
which has a more typical Gothic base, is
surmounted by a very simple spire giving a
striking impression of a “spurt”.
• This spire, 106 metres high, was the subject of
many comments from artists and writers (Charles
Péguy said that it was “unique in the world”)
• Since the French Revolution, the bell tower does
not longer contain a bell. It previously had six,
including three great bells.
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The Portals of the South Transept

• The south transept contains three portals

housed by a deep porch.
• The central portal is surmounted by a stained
glass clerestory (4 lancet windows), a rose
window.
• The lateral portals are topped by two open
towers which do not exceed the height of the
cathedral.

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The Portals of the North Transept

• The north transept has the same layout as

the south transept.
• The portals of the North Transept have the
Virgin Mary as their main theme.
• The left portal is dedicated to the
Incarnation with scenes showing the
Adoration of the Magi and the
Announcement of the Nativity to the
Shepherds.
• The central portal represents Mary’s
Crowning with a statue of Saint Anne and
Mary as a child on the trumeau.
• The portal to the right refers to the
announcement of a Saviour with scenes of
Job and the Judgement of Solomon.

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The interior of Chartres Cathedral
The Nave

1. Chartres Cathedral is 130 metres long.

2. The nave, 16.4 metres wide and 44 meters long, consists of seven bays punctuated by as many
columns.
3. The vaults of the central nave are 37 metres high in the nave.
4. It is a three-storey elevation. Above the great archways, the triforium contains bays of four
archways.
5. At the time of the construction of the nave, the decision about the height came from an
ambitious research on finding balance in its design. Despite the height of the vaults, the nave
does not appear too vast or too spacious but rather heavy and powerful.
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The interior of Chartres Cathedral
The Nave
6. the church was illuminated by removing the
lofts, often surmounted the side naves of
previous basilicas, the nave was directly
illuminated through the windows.

7. The windows of the portal and crowned

with a rose, were left opened. They were the
largest windows ever built. This is the genius
of Gothic Art: as soon as the flying
buttresses took the main thrust, it was no
longer necessary to strengthen the building
by using a superposition system of vaults.
8. The side naves rise up vertically and allow
the light shining through the aisle windows
to reach the centre of the nave, with
archways that are 14 meters high.

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The interior of Chartres Cathedral
The Stained-Glass Windows

1. The stained glass windows of Chartres are known

around the world due to their famous cobalt blue
colour, clear and deep, known as “the blue from
Chartres”.

2. Chartres Cathedral retains the largest collection

of medieval stained glass windows preserved in
the world, which is remarkably well-maintained
until today.

3. There are 176 stained glass windows (including

small rose windows), which corresponds to a
surface area of 2 600 m2,

4. Three stained glass windows from the 12th

century have been preserved, notably with
inimitable cobalt blue colours, the secret formula
of which has not been discovered.

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The interior of Chartres Cathedral
The rose Windows

1. The rose window was a typical feature of cathedral

facades and interiors.
2. This is the north rose window from Chartres.
3. It features the Virgin Mary in a roundel in the center,
surrounded by four doves that symbolize the Holy Ghost
and angels with censers and candlesticks.
4. Beyond is a circle of diamond-shaped panels showing
seated, crowned figures – the kings of Judea in
chronological order.
5. The outermost circle shows standing figures of prophets
wearing “Jews’ caps” and holding scrolls.
6. In small quatrefoils are fleur-de-lis, which represent the
French monarchy. Thus the window links the royal family
of Christ with French royalty
7. Gold castles on a red background also link the French
monarchy with the Virgin Mother.
8. The link between the French monarchy and Mary is also
present because King Louis VII and Queen Blanche of
Castile donated the rose window to the church.

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Quick review on dimentions

1. Its total length is equal to 130 meters & has an interior height of 37
meters.
2. The West Front has a total width 47.5 meters.
3. The Nave has a length of 73 meters and a width of 14 meters.
4. The North Tower has a height of 115 meters.
5. Meanwhile, the South Tower has a height of 106 meters.
6. The large rose window has a diameter of 13.4 meters.

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Quick view on the architectural elements.

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