Chatres Cathedral as One Enters

Chatres Cathedral

As one enters Chartres Cathedral from the central, or royal, portal, one is surrounded the sculptures of Old Testament kings and queens that make up the doorjamb. A glance heavenward will reveal the Tympanum with its sculpture of the Last Judgment, with Christ in the center and the animal four evangelists on either side. The artwork continues with Friezes on the capitals to the left of the central portal, which tell the story of Mary the mother of Christ. Plunging through the royal portal, one finds oneself in the narthex, or the foyer of the cathedral. The narthex opens unto the nave, which measures 121 feet high and is France's widest, from which one can view one's final destination, the stunning apse dome, which rises 427 feet East of the nave. In the midst of the nave is one of the most rare and stunning pieces of gothic architecture, the labyrinth, which immediately captures the visitor's eye. Resembling a circular maze, the labyrinth was once a place for monks to walk in meditation, and is the same size and shape as the west wall's rose window. In addition to the labyrinth, one's eyes are immediately drawn to the high, vaulted ceilings that characterize the cathedral from the narthex. In fact, a view from rear of the cathedral reveals the flying buttresses that are used to support these magnificent ceilings.