Sunday, August 14, 2011

Saint-Pierre Church - Chartres


Saint-Pierre Church in Chartres is not as well known as the Cathedral of our Lady of Chartres, but this 13th Century church is a Gothic masterpiece with some windows surviving from the 14th Century.

Built outside the original fortress walls of Chartres, it was built to withstand the assault of aggressive armies. Built, reconstructed, renovated over the centuries, it is currently undergoing restorative work in the high arches seen here.

Bon dimanche




26 comments:

Sylvia K said...

What an incredible place, mon amie!! And your capture is breathtaking! What incredible beauty!! Hope you're enjoying a lovely weekend, Genie!

Sylvia

Anonymous said...

Très belle croisée d'ogives.
Bon dimanche, Genie!

PerthDailyPhoto said...

My Sunday is never complete anymore Genie without the sight of one of the many incredible churches around Paris (no pressure haha!), the arches here are so beautiful! thank goodness it did survive those aggressive armies!!

Karen Xavier said...

Whoa, this looks stunning! Happened to stumble upon your blog and its lovely.
Karen Xavier.

Andy said...

You have really captured the magnitude of the church. Great photography Genie!

Forest Dream Weaver said...

These beautiful arches look so delicate and flowing,yet strong.
Interesting angle!

Bon dimanche Genie,
Ruby

dive said...

A breathtakingly beautiful clerestory, Genie. So nice to see the cleaned stone against the old.

biebkriebels said...

Those ceilings are so beautiful. I saw simulars in Great Britain last year.

Joe said...

He slid forward on the polished pew, craned his neck and gazed into the vaulted ceiling. Slowly, purposefully he searched the sunlit arches through the rose, the gold, the blue but it was only when he closed his eyes he found it; his hopes, his dreams, his truth.

Birdman said...

Now, that's dramatic!

Leenamarketta said...

Lovely! Absolutely! Windows are very beautiful.

M said...

Oh Genie, your angle on this is wonderful! The light is beautiful. Bon dimanche!!!

Starman said...

Never been to Chartres.

Alexa said...

Let me add my kudos for this one, Genie! Even though I actually do know how they built these things back then, I still find myself saying: How DID they do it?!
Bon dimanche --

Vagabonde said...

My laptop is not working and I have to use a borrowed computer so I have not been on the web very much. I looked at your last updates and the pictures are so pretty as usual.

When I was a little girl my mother would buy the Bécassine books for me. Now they must be collector’s items as they are very old editions. I spent many happy hours with the stories of Bécassine. Do you know where her name comes fron? A bécasse is a bird but it also means someone not too smart, a dimwit really. Bécassine is sweet but not too bright which is why she gets into so many misadventures – she is a few bricks short a load as they say here.

weekend et coup de brosse said...

Ta photo est magnifique Génie , bon dimanche

orvokki said...

Only what I can say, is: wonderfull.

Jack said...

Wonderful place and wonderful image, Genie. It always amazes me that such complex structures were possible so many centuries ago.

jennyfreckles said...

Your photo really shows the soaring, uplifting architecture. You can see why they built great churches like that, it looks like heaven up there.

Gisa said...

Amazing!
Kisses from Brazil

Anonymous said...

I can *feel* the light and air and heavenliness of this space. I love it!

Louis la Vache said...

«Louis» regrets that he missed this gothic masterpiece in his times in France. He hopes you show more of it!

Rob-bear said...

C'est une belle église.
Bon dimanche, Génie.

Virginia said...

As I've I've visited Paris, I find that often , in exhaustion, I sit back and look up, and take a deep breath. The ceilings are often the most magnificent part of the churches. I think you might have done this as well!
V

Alan said...

Very nicely exposed, Genie. Lovely shot.

Feily said...

Beautiful shot!!