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Chartres Cathedral, Chartres

4.7
#1 of 39 in Things to do in Chartres
Must see · World heritage site · Church · Tourist Spot
Considered one of the finest examples of French Gothic cathedral architecture, Chartres Cathedral still has the majority of original stained glass windows intact, while the architecture has had only minor changes since the early 13th century. Come to venerate its most famous relic, the "Sancta Camisa," alleged to be the tunic worn by the Virgin Mary during Christ's birth.

The building's exterior is dominated by heavy flying buttresses with large the windows, while the west end is dominated by two contrasting spires: a 105 m (349 ft) plain pyramid completed in 1160 CE and a 113 m (377 ft) early 16th-century flamboyant spire on top of an older tower. Equally notable are the three façades, each adorned with hundreds of sculpted figures illustrating key theological themes. To visit Chartres Cathedral and get the most from your holiday in Chartres, create itinerary details personal to you using our Chartres online trip planner.
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Chartres Cathedral reviews

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TripAdvisor traveler rating 4.5
4,907 reviews
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4.7
TripAdvisor
  • By aleksandarkrc
    the Cathedrale is the perfect example of the total art work.The architecture is remendously elegant, the stained windows with the famous blu of Chartres are the best preserved in Europe very window...  more »
  • By VadimM67
    Chartres Cathedral became one of the first UNESCO world heritage sites in 1979 in France. Its extraordinary significance is based on the stained glass Windows and the amazing preservation of the...  more »
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Google
  • By Jim Free
    Incredible cathedral with great original stained glass and stone work. Stunning first century relic "Veil of the Virgin", we had no idea was there. Stop and visit ASAP!
  • By Christine Kitchen
    Oh my! Where to start. This town is just so pretty, whatever time of year you visit....but in the summer is the added bonus of the wonderful light show at the Cathedral. If you are travelliing through, this is a very enjoyable stop.
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