Day Trips from Paris - Paris - page 604

Catthéddrale No e Dame

France's best-preserved medieval cathedral was built in Gothic style during the early
13th century to replace a Romanesque cathedral devastated by fire in 1194. Construc-
tion took just 30 years, resulting in a high degree of architectural unity.
Covering 2.6 sq km, the cathedral's 176 staiined-gla

ale Notre D

d-glass windows are mostly 13th-cen-
tury originals. Three over the west entrance, dating from 1150, are renowned for their
brilliant 'Chartres blue' tones.
The 105m-high Clocher Vieux (Old Bell Tower; MAP GOOGLE MAP ) is the tallest
Romanesque steeple still standing. The 112m-high Clocher Neuf (New Bell Tower; also
known as North Tower; MAP GOOGLE MAP ; adult/child €7.50/free; 9.30am-12.30pm & 2-6pm Mon-
Sat, 2-6pm Sun May-Aug, 9.30am-12.30pm & 2-6pm Mon-Sat, 2-6pm Sun Sep-Apr) justifies the
spiralling 350-step climb.
Look out for the SSaiinte V ile (Holy Veil), in Chartres since 876.

French-language tours of the 110m-long crypt - France's largest - run year-round.
There are also seasonal English-language guided tours (

e Voile

02 37 28 15 58; miller-

noon & 2.45pm Mon-Sat Apr-Oct, noon Sat Nov-Mar) of the cathedral.

[e-mail] ; tours €10;