vert et turquoise

The bright green of new spring growth

and closed aqua shutters

Do you wonder what lies beyond

the window?

28000, Chartres

Église Saint Pierre - Chartres

Église Saint Pierre

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.

bon dimanche

Église Saint Pierre

rue Pétion

28000, Chartres

L'horloge

Built between 1194 and 1250, Chartres Cathedral is one of the finest examples of

French Gothic architecture.  The 12th century structure is at least the fifth to occupy the

site since the fourth century.

Having read much about World War II in recent years,

 it is interesting to know that the magnificent windows seen still today 

were removed in 1939 before the Germans advanced.  

The glass was cleaned and releaded before 

being returned to their original placement.

Chartres is only fifty miles outside of Paris 

and worth a day trip to see this cathedral and two other churches.  

The old town is charming and a step back in time.

bon dimanche

Basilique Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres

16 cloitre Notre-Dame

28000 Chartres

Chartres, France

L'Eure à Chartres

L'Eure à Chartres

Not only will you find the magnificent cathedral in Chartres, 

but a quiet place to stroll along the river Eure, 

stopping for a cup of tea, a delicious lunch, 

or an assortment of pastries.

The relaxed pace of life here is a welcome reprieve 

from the rush of daily life.

bon weekend

L'Eure à Chartres

28000, Chartres

Déjeuner à Chatrès

Lunch in Chartrès

A quiet table for two.

Yes, this could be just about anywhere, 

but the cane chair just about gives it away.

Chartrès, 

a quick train from Paris

Un ancien mur de pierre

An ancient stone wall

The crumbling stone wall 

crusted with moss and lichens 

provides a perch for delicate yellow wild flowers

Chartrès

Beyond, France

Église Saint-Agnan de Chartres

Église Saint-Agnan de Chartres:

a simple iron gate* in a 500 year-old church

joyeuses Pâques

Église Saint-Aignan de Chartres

12, place de l'Etape au Vin

28000, Chartres

 

*with cobwebs 

Cathédral Notre-Dame de Chartres - un détail

Chartres Cathedral

12th Century Gothic

The 300 narrow, winding steps to the bell tower 

reward the adventurous climber with a quiet and lofty view of Chartres 

as well as intricate details.  

The cathedral artisans carved images of beasts and flowers 

in places where they would not be easily seen by anyone but God.

bon dimanche

Cathédral Notre-Dame de Chartres

Chartres, France
(an easy day-trip from Paris by train)

Les toits de Chartres

from the Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres

On the ascent to the top of the Bell Tower

A variety of architecture, rooftops, and layout of the city

can be seen from our ascent at the half-way point to the top of the Bell Tower.

The steps were worn smooth and a tight spiral shared by those going up and those going down.  We only encountered a few in either direction.  It is a bit dizzying.

If I had shown this photo in black and white you would have missed the fields of rape seed (canola) in the far horizon.  As we made the quick trip on the train, the bright yellow provided blocks of color as we zipped along.

Chartres, France

96 km southwest of Paris

an easy day-trip by train

Église Saint-Aignan de Chartres

Église Saint-Aignan de Chartres

This church, established in 400 AD, 

sits almost unnoticed in a ville known for its great cathedral.  

A bit neglected, it is majestic in its own way, 

filled with colors of turquoise, coral, and gold.

bon dimanche

Église Saint-Aignan de Chartres

12, place de l'Etape au Vin

28000, Chartres

Dans la rue - le marcheur

Le marcheur

on a brisk walk in the streets of Chartres

Les rues de Chartres
Chartres, France

Cathédral Notre-Dame de Chartres

Chartres Cathedral

12th Century Gothic

looking down as we ascended the many ancient,

spiraling steps to the bell tower

bon dimanche

Cathédral Notre-Dame de Chartres
Chartres, France
(an easy day-trip from Paris by train)

Aqua et vert

Aqua et vert

Turquoise shuttered windows with a fringe of green

Hope that sunshine and a good breeze

will have these windows open for the weekend



Notre Dame de Chartres - la tour nord

Notre Dame de Chartres, commonly known as Chartres Cathedral, is an architectural treasure as well as a destination for pilgrims for over a thousand years.  I have posted previously here, here and here.

This photo was taken as friend Marie and I ascended the narrow, worn steps in the Jehan de Beauce tower.  We walked round and round seeing few others in the tight spiral leading to the very top, a rather small perch from which to view all of Chartres.  This shot is a portion of the buttresses and the 19th century iron roof.  Each rotation on our way to the top provided a vignette beyond the stone windows including gargoyles and other carvings.

If you are in Paris this easy day trip is worth the visit.  Currently the interior is undergoing a major restoration and there may be portions inaccessible to visitors.  The labyrinth has been restored and is open.

bon dimanche

Notre Dame de Chartres
Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres
Chartres, France

Malcolm Miller, Chartres Cathedral expert

On Sundays, I usually feature a church.

Today, I am presenting a portrait of Malcolm Miller, who is likely the foremost authority on Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres.  He has been giving lecture tours of this world famous cathedral for over 50 years and says that he continues to learn new details.

According to Mr. Miller, the 13th century Chartres Cathedral can be compared to a library. And like a library, we may visit and read many books, maybe even re-read some books, but we will never read all the books. Chartres is much the same. Its contents: architectural design, statues, and stained glass are each like books and their respective images their text. What is remarkable in this new millennium, said Miller, is that much of Chartres can still be "read."  (from Kathleen Lang's "Malcolm Miller: Reading Chartres Cathedral, info@artagogo.com)

If you have an opportunity to see Chartres Cathedral, be sure to search out Mr. Miller for better understanding of the details, stories and mysteries of the cathedral.  He will demand your attention much like a professor of his students and delight you with his humor and intimate knowledge.

bon dimanche

Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres

Chartres, France 

Cathedral of our Lady of Chartres - astrological clock

The chancel screen of Chartres Cathedral displays an impressive astrological clock dating from the 16th century. It told not only the time but the day of the week, the month of the year, the time of sunrise and sunset, the phase of the moon and the current sign of the zodiac. Its inner works were partially destroyed in 1793.

With the thousands of stained glass windows one could almost miss this treasure

bon dimanche

Église Saint-Aignan de Chartres - Illumination

Just outside of Paris is Église Saint-Aignan de Chartres, not nearly as well known as the Chartres Cathedral, but exquisite in detail and color.  Established in 400 AD, most of the building today dates from the Sixteenth Century. 

Bon Dimanche

La Rentrée

La rentrée, a return to school studies and so much more. 

I doubt that any of these young men were sad to return.

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

Ces yeux bleus

The blue eyes on this French house cat captured my attention, and it would appear that there was something about me that piqued his interest as well.

Perhaps he was feeling guilty that he and his friend had smoked all of those cigarettes. Hummmm....