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title: Chartres Cathedral
description: The high masterpiece of French Gothic religious architecture, famed for its masterfully preserved cobalt stained glass layouts.
llms_summary: "Chartres Cathedral. (Chartres, Centre-Val de Loire, France). TouristAttraction. Annual Visitors 1500000 (1.5M) people. Buffer Zone 64 ha. Category Type Cultural. Conservation Status Excellent. Epoch Origin High Middle Ages (12th C.). Latitude 48.4472 °. Longitude 1.4878 °. Primary Material Chérence Limestone. Property Area 1 ha. UNESCO ID 81. Year Inscribed 1979. Best for medieval glass appraisers, Gothic vault engineers, and theological historians.  The high masterpiece of French Gothic religious architecture, famed for its masterfully preserved cobalt stained glass layouts.  canonical profile on High-Velocity Content Engine"
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# Chartres Cathedral

The high masterpiece of French Gothic religious architecture, famed for its masterfully preserved cobalt stained glass layouts.

*Last updated: 2026-07-22*

## Record

- **Title**: [Chartres Cathedral](https://hypersonicseo.com/chartres-cathedral/?format=md)
- **Place**: Chartres, Centre-Val de Loire, France
- **Range**: france · chartres · centre-val-de-loire · europe
- **Use case**: Best for medieval glass appraisers, Gothic vault engineers, and theological historians.
- **Website**: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/81
- **Contact address**: 16 Cloître Notre Dame, Chartres, Centre-Val de Loire, 28000, France
- **Coordinates**: 48.4472, 1.4878

### Summary

The high masterpiece of French Gothic religious architecture, famed for its masterfully preserved cobalt stained glass layouts.

### Description

## Pinnacle of High Gothic Design

Chartres Cathedral stands as the quintessential embodiment of French High Gothic architecture, largely constructed between 1194 and 1220. Its innovative structural system, featuring massive flying buttresses and soaring ribbed vaults, allowed for unprecedented wall openings, which are filled with an almost entirely preserved collection of 12th and 13th-century stained-glass windows. This architectural integrity, having escaped significant alterations since its completion, offers an unparalleled insight into the aesthetic and engineering prowess of the period.

Beyond its structural innovations, the cathedral is renowned for its sculptural programs, particularly the Royal Portal on the west facade, dating from the mid-12th century, which showcases early Gothic sculpture. Inside, the famous labyrinth embedded in the nave floor, a medieval path for penitents, and the relic of the Sancta Camisa (the tunic believed to have been worn by the Virgin Mary at Christ's birth) underscore its profound historical role as a major pilgrimage destination. Its influence extended across Europe, shaping the development of Gothic cathedrals for centuries.

### Categories

- cultural heritage
- monuments
- religious temples

### Attributes

| Property | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Annual Visitors | 1500000 (1.5M) people |
| Buffer Zone | 64 ha |
| Category Type | Cultural |
| Conservation Status | Excellent |
| Epoch Origin | High Middle Ages (12th C.) |
| Latitude | 48.4472 ° |
| Longitude | 1.4878 ° |
| Primary Material | Chérence Limestone |
| Property Area | 1 ha |
| UNESCO ID | 81 |
| Year Inscribed | 1979 |