Chartres
the cathedral
Chartres Cathedral, the cathedral
church of Notre Dame (Our Lady) in the city of Chartres, in northwestern France,
one of the foremost examples of High Gothic architecture, and widely imitated
for its innovations in architecture, sculpture, and stained glass.
main entrance
World Heritage site
Photos of the Stained Glass Windows
Photos of the town of Chartres
Most of the sculpture in this entryway, called the royal portal, was carved between 1145 and 1170.
The architectural sculptures at Chartres are among the first
since classical Roman times in which carved figures reflect individualized
characteristics. In addition, the figures project further from the building than
earlier examples, allowing for the depiction of more naturalistic movement.
While these sculptures still appear stiff by later standards, they mark the
beginning of a trend toward portrait like carving. More than 2000 sculpted
figures decorate the cathedral, including several in the only surviving section
of the pre-1194 building, an area surrounding three doorways at the lower west
front.
Construction of a Romanesque-style cathedral began in 1120 on the
site of an earlier church. This cathedral was mostly destroyed by fire in 1194.
The building we see today, acclaimed as a turning point in Gothic architecture,
was begun that same year and largely completed by about 1220, although
decorative and other additions continued to be made for several hundred years
thereafter. The most prominent of the later additions is the northwest spire,
the Clocher Neuf, completed in 1513 to balance the earlier spire, which dates
from 1160.
the older Romanesque portion
flying buttresses
Chartres is the first Gothic
cathedral for which the original plans included flying buttresses for structural
support. Flying buttresses, an innovation of Gothic architecture, are arched
projections attached to the exterior of a building. They transfer its weight
away from the walls, thus allowing for a higher structure and more windows,
since the walls need not support the weight of the building by themselves.
Text from Microsoft Encarta
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