Chartres Cathedral

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.

Not in Paris, in the quiet city of Chartres, you can see the same church as Notre Dame. There are few tourists inside and outside, and you can quietly feel the history of religion and leave space for your heart. There is a light show at night, which is also one of the stops of this "Swiss-France Free Tour". About 80 kilometers west of Paris, self-driving tour is recommended.

Before rushing to South France, I took a half-day to visit the main church of Saudi Arabia, and the interior window flowers were especially wonderful! The church disappointed me a bit, but the old town retains the medieval charm that I found inadvertently. The lanes stretched along the slopes like a maze, and the small houses piled up in the open area.

The biggest feature of this church is that every year from mid-April to early October, there are beautiful light shows everywhere in the city at night, especially the most beautiful on the church side. But because it is dark in Europe for half a year, it is dark at 22 o'clock, and the light show starts, so if you are not driving by yourself, it is best to stay here for one night, otherwise you may miss the last train. The flower windows in the church are also better than other places. The light show is on the front, side of the church, and the museum behind it. It takes about 10 minutes to play on the front. On the way to Shattre, the train will pass by Mantnon Castle, and you can get off again to see where Louis XIV's mistress lives.

Chartres, whose cathedral is still considered to be the best preserved after the robbery, but I came in for an overhaul, and even the famous maze of tiles can only peek into parts. The blue colored glass windows have become a historical sound, deep and fascinating