Chartres Cathedral (full name Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Chartres) is located in the medieval town of Chartres, about 50 miles from Paris.  It is considered to be the finest Gothic cathedral in France, if not in all of Europe.  Not only is the Cathedral one of the greatest achievements in the history of architecture, it is almost perfectly preserved in its original design and details.  The extensive cycle of portal sculpture remains fully intact and its glowing stained-glass windows are all originals.  Thus, it is the ONLY cathedral that conveys an almost perfect image of how it looked when it was built. 

Chartres Cathedral was first built in 1145, but was destroyed by fire in 1194.  A new cathedral was built on the same foundation and was completed in 1260.  The result is a cathedral that inspires superlatives, and there are few historians who have not spoken lovingly of its soaring aisles and delicate carvings.  These tributes are richly deserved, for Chartres is truly one of the greatest of all French Gothic cathedrals.  From a distance it seems to hover in mid-air.  Its two contrasting spires - one, 349 feet, dating from the 1140s, and the other a 377 feet early 16th century spire on top of an older tower - soar upwards over the pale green roof, while all around the outside are complex flying buttresses.  The upper walls of the nave and choir are made largely of glass, so they had to be buttressed with high arches extending over the roofs of the side aisles.  Chartres was the first place that buttresses were used as a structural element that determined the overall external appearance of the building.

Inside, vivid color splashes on the floor from the superb stained glass windows that glow like jewels.  Dating from the early 13th century, it is said to constitute one of the most complete collections of medieval stained glass in the world.  And the stone floor still bears its ancient floor labyrinth (1205), used for walking contemplation by monks and still used for meditation by pilgrims.  There is just one path through the labyrinth and it is 964 feet long.

Chartres Cathedral was never destroyed nor looted during the French Revolution and the numerous restorations have never altered its glorious beauty.  In 1979 the cathedral was added to UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites.