Stained-glass windows of the cathedral of Chartres, Medieval stained glass windows in Chartres Cathedral, France
The stained glass windows of Chartres Cathedral are medieval artworks from the 12th and 13th centuries, featuring religious scenes and figurative designs set in glass. The collection consists of over 170 windows assembled by different workshops and reflecting various artistic schools.
Most windows were made for the church rebuilt after the 1194 fire, between 1205 and 1240; the west lancets date from 1145–1155 and Notre-Dame de la Belle Verrière from 1180. The windows were removed and stored during both world wars, after the 1914 destruction of Reims Cathedral's glass caused shock across France. Cleaning and treatment against pollution has been under way since 1972.
The windows tell biblical stories and show scenes from daily medieval life, including craft workshops and religious figures. They once served as visual teaching material for people who could not read.
The best time to view them is during daylight when the sun makes the colors glow. The windows are located throughout the cathedral, so plan to walk through all areas at a comfortable pace.
The three lancets on the west front, made 1145–1155, are contemporary with Abbot Suger's windows at Saint-Denis. The central section of Notre-Dame de la Belle Verrière, famed for its blue, dates to about 1180 and survived the 1194 fire. In 1940 part of the glass was hidden in the Fongrenon quarry at Cercles in the Ribéracois; the rest was stored in the cathedral crypt.
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