Chartres

Chartres, the capital of the French department of Eure-et-Loir, 55 miles SW. of Paris, is built partly at the base and partly on the declivity of a hill overlooking the river Eure, which is here divided into two channels, one flowing within, and the other without the former ramparts, which are converted into agreeable promenades. It consists of an upper and lower town, connected by very steep streets; and the highest point is crowned by the glorious cathedral of Notre Dame—in Street's opinion, the finest in France. Built chiefly between 1194 and 1260, it has two spires, of which the south-western is 342½ feet high, and the north-western, 371; the latter, built in 1507-14, being, 'on the whole, the most beautiful spire on the Continent.' Other features are the three rose-windows, the splendid portals, and the 13th-century stained-glass that fills no fewer than 130 windows. The church of St Pierre (12th century), the Porte Guillaume (14th century), and the obelisk to the memory of General Marceau, are also noteworthy. The weekly corn-market is one of the largest in France, and is remarkable as being under a corporation of women. It has manufactures of woollen, hosiery, and leather. Chartres usually gave the title of Duke to the eldest son of the Orleans branch of the Bourbons (see BOURBON). Pop. (1872) 19,322; (1891) 22,762.—The Autricum of the Carnutes (hence the present name), Chartres in 1594 was the scene of the coronation of Henry IV. See The City of Chartres, by Massé (1900).