Trip.Best Popular Best Things to Do in Chartres [2024]

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"When Notre Dame Chateau began to rebuild after a fire destroyed the original church in 1194, the Gothic style had matured from the early Romanesque style, after nearly a century of transformation, and the churches that took only 26 years to build were mainly Gothic. Legend has it that the Virgin Mary was a famous pilgrimage site in the Middle Ages, and miracles still exist after 800 years. This cathedral is Gothic with Roman architectural elements, which are spectacular from the front, back, and left, or from a distance. The two towering bell towers are particularly striking in different styles due to the difference in construction age from the second century. The sculpture art of Notre Dame is unparalleled, and the Roman-style Simon and Main Gate are carved by the top craftsmen of the time, with about 4,000 statues on both sides reflecting the evolution of a century of sculpture art. The painted glass is also one of the most prestigious features of the Cathedral of Chartres, where King Henry IV was crowned in 1594 and was included in the World Heritage Site in 1979."