Chartres, built of limestone, 112 feet (34 meters) high and 427 feet (130 meters) long, is one of the most famous cathedrals in France and is widely praised for its sculpture, magnificent stained-glass windows from 12th- and 13th-century.
It was partly built starting in 1145, and the original Romanesque church was mostly destroyed by a fire in 1194. It was then reconstructed on the same foundation.

The new cathedral marks the high point of French Gothic art and displayed innovations which set the standard for thirteenth century architecture. The vast nave, in pure ogival style, the porches adorned with fine sculptures.