Birthday Girl and a rest day in Chartres

25th April 2018

 Today is Jacqui's birthday.  A big thank you for all the birthday messages.  She also enjoyed opening cards and presents sent before we left.  We had a very relaxed, leisurely morning before heading off to Chartres by bike along a 1 mile path beside the river.

Although we had been told how stunning the cathedral is, it didn't prepare us for the magnificence of this 12th/13th century building.  It is vast.  The exterior is all intricate stone work and sculptures along with the twin spires which can be seen for miles in all directions.  The stained glass windows are vibrantly beautiful and it was incredible to learn that they are all orignial.  We loved the sculptures which surrounded the nave.  Extremely well preserved.  Although they show the life of Mary, they were, I presume, sculpted from life showing real people from 900 years ago.  Some of these were in their original condition whilst some had been beautifully and painstakingly restored over a number of years.

The rest of the centre was largely pedestrianised and a pleasant place to wander.

Anyway, enough blather, here are the pics.









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