History

Early Construction

The early construction phases of Chartres Cathedral are characterized by a series of churches built, destroyed, and then rebuilt on the same site:

  1. The First Church (4th Century): The initial structure, dating back to at least the 4th century, was constructed near a Gallo-Roman wall. This early church was burned down on the orders of the Duke of Aquitaine in 743 CE.
  2. Second Church and Destruction: A new church was erected on the same site but was set ablaze by Danish pirates in 858. This event led to a period of reconstruction and expansion under the guidance of Bishop Gislebert. This structure was remarkable, with an ambulatory, three large chapels, and an upper church measuring 108 meters long and 34 meters wide. The project saw contributions from across Europe, including from King Cnut the Great.
  3. Gislebert’s Church and Fire of 1020: The church reconstructed by Bishop Gislebert was also ravaged by fire, in 1020. Despite these repeated devastations, a part of Gislebert’s church, known as the Saint Lubin Chapel, survives to this day. This chapel, located beneath the apse of the present cathedral, took its name from Lubinus, a mid-6th-century Bishop of Chartres. Interestingly, this chapel is situated lower than the rest of the crypt and may have originally been the shrine of a local saint before the church was rededicated to the Virgin Mary.

Fires and Additions

The subsequent phase of Chartres Cathedral’s history was marked by further fires and significant additions:

  1. Fire of 1134 and Reconstruction: A fire in 1134 caused extensive damage to the cathedral’s façade and bell tower. During this period, the north tower was already under construction, initiated in the mid-1120s. This tower was crowned with a wooden spire around 1142.
  2. South Tower and Royal Portal: The construction of the south tower began immediately after the fire. This tower, completed around 1165, stood at a height of 105 meters, making it one of the tallest in Europe. The Royal Portal, integrated into the south tower, was likely finished shortly after 1140.
  3. Notable Architectural Features: The cathedral’s west façade, including the Royal Portal, was an essential element, serving as the main entrance. The stained glass in the three lancet windows above the portals was installed before 1145. The design of the south tower was modified from a square base to an octagonal form for the spire during the construction phase.

Major Fire in 1194 and Rapid Reconstruction

The major fire of 1194 and its subsequent rapid reconstruction are critical chapters in the history of Chartres Cathedral:

  1. Devastating Fire in 1194: On the night of June 10, 1194, a catastrophic fire engulfed the cathedral. This fire destroyed much of the structure, sparing only the crypt, the towers, and the new façade.
  2. International Support and Rapid Reconstruction: The cathedral’s fame as a pilgrimage site, housing relics of the Virgin Mary, prompted widespread support for its reconstruction. Funds poured in from royalty, nobility, and ordinary people across Europe. The reconstruction effort incorporated surviving parts like the towers and the Royal Portal.
  3. Remarkable Speed of Construction: The reconstruction focused on the nave, aisles, and lower levels of the transepts first, followed by the choir and apse chapels, and finally the upper parts of the transept. By 1220, the roof was in place. Most of the new cathedral, renowned for its stained glass and sculpture, was completed within an impressive 25 years.
  4. Reconsecration in 1260: The cathedral was formally reconsecrated in October 1260 in the presence of King Louis IX of France. This rapid and extensive reconstruction was a remarkable feat for the period and cemented Chartres Cathedral’s place as a masterpiece of Gothic architecture.

Later Modifications and Historical Events

  1. 14th and 15th Century Additions: The cathedral saw relatively few changes after the 13th century. In 1326, a chapel dedicated to Saint Piatus of Tournai was added. Another chapel, opened in 1417 by Louis, Count of Vendôme, features a Flamboyant Gothic style.
  2. Reconstruction of the North Spire: In 1506, lightning destroyed the north spire, which was then rebuilt in the Flamboyant style from 1507 to 1513 by architect Jean Texier.
  3. Henry IV’s Coronation: King Henry IV of France was crowned in Chartres Cathedral in 1594, a deviation from the traditional Reims Cathedral due to military occupations at that time.
  4. Interior Modifications in the 18th Century: In 1753, changes were made to the cathedral’s interior to adapt to new theological practices, including the removal of the rood screen and the addition of marble reliefs.

Survival During the French Revolution

During the French Revolution, Chartres Cathedral faced significant threats:

  1. Attack on Sculptures: Early in the Revolution, a mob began to destroy the sculpture on the cathedral’s north porch. However, this destruction was halted by a larger group of townspeople who intervened to protect the cathedral.
  2. Plan to Demolish the Cathedral: The local Revolutionary Committee considered demolishing the cathedral using explosives. An architect was tasked with identifying the best location for the explosives. He saved the cathedral by arguing that the rubble from the demolished building would block the streets for years, making it impractical.
  3. Preservation and Halting of Worship: The cathedral, like other major French cathedrals, became the property of the French State. Although worship was halted during this period, further damage to the cathedral was avoided.

Survival During World War II

During World War II, Chartres Cathedral narrowly escaped destruction:

  1. Threat from American Forces: In August 1944, American forces, believing that the cathedral’s towers were being used by the Germans as an observation post, planned to target it.
  2. Intervention by Colonel Griffith: Colonel Welborn Barton Griffith Jr. questioned the order to fire on the cathedral. Instead of immediately acting on the order, he, along with a volunteer soldier, went to verify whether the Germans were indeed using the cathedral.
  3. Verification and Signal to Spare the Cathedral: Upon discovering that the cathedral was not occupied by the Germans, Griffith ordered the cathedral bells to be rung as a signal for the Americans not to shoot.
  4. Colonel Griffith’s Heroic Act: This decisive action by Colonel Griffith spared the cathedral from destruction. Tragically, he died in combat later that same day near Chartres, and was posthumously honored with several military decorations for his bravery.

21st Century Restoration

In 2008, a major restoration program began, focusing on cleaning and restoring the interior surfaces and sculptures, and restoring and protecting the stained-glass windows. This restoration brings back the light and the dialogue between glass and stone created by the 13th C. master builders, although not all agree. 

Chartres Cathedral, stands as a testament to the resilience and evolving architectural styles over centuries, from its early Romanesque roots to its current Gothic splendor.

restore and preserve the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Chartres

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