Chartres - Cathédrale Notre-Dame

There have been five cathedrals on this site. One was destroyed by Visigothic troops mid of the 8th century. The successive cathedral was burnt down by Vikings ("Danes") in 858. The carolingian structure that was erected within the next decades was burnt down in 962 by troops led by Richard I of Normandy (aka "Richard the Fearless", "Richard Sans-Peur").

The rebuilding started again, but whatever was completed got destroyed by a fire, caused accidently, in 1020. The erection of a Romanesque cathedral started and most of the still existing crypt dates back to that building.

In 1134, another fire damaged the town and large parts of the cathedral. The towers got repaired and rebuilt and the portal between them got created. Another blaze hit the town in June 1194. The cathedral was burnt down. Construction works started the same year. The western towers and the undamaged western portal ("Portail Royal") got integrated into the new building.

The nave was already vaulted in 1220, the transept and the stained windows were completed in 1260. On 24 October 1260, only 66 years after the start of construction, the Cathédrale Notre-Dame was consecrated in the presence of Louis IX of France (aka "Saint Louis", "le Prudhomme").

Since Charles the Bald, Louis the Pious´ son, had given the "Sancta Camisia" to the cathedral in 876. Because of this "Veil of the Virgin" Chartres developed into a very important Marian pilgrimage center in medieval times.

The "Portail Royal" is part of the cathedral´s western façade. This portal survived the fire, that destroyed the preceding cathedral in 1194. The portal was carved by 1150, a visible transition from Romanesque to Gothic style.

The upper bodies of the three jamb statues. Standing at the right portal of the Royal Portal, they are very close to the thousands of visitors, that use this entrance every day.

The slim jamb statues are elongated and are very elegant. They depict kings, queens and figures from the Old Testament. The lady wears very long braids (just like the lady at the center portal). Only the two male persons have halos! The king in the center holds a scepter with a "Fleur-de-lis", a royal symbol. His index finger points exactly to this symbol.

A medieval legend connects the "Fleur-de-lis" with Clovis I (466-511), who united the Frankish tribes and was the first king of the Franks.

The Capetian dynasty used the symbol since Robert II ( aka "Robert le Pieux", +1031). So when the statue was carved (1150) this was a kind of political statement.

Please note the little centaur, blowing a horn, just above the king´s shoulder.