This week, under the guidance of Bertrand d’Aleman from My Private Paris, we are talking about stained glass windows and Gothic churches. These two have long been intrinsically connected and, according to Bertrand, they are having a renaissance.
Of the hundreds of medieval Gothic churches scattered across the country, dozens and dozens happen to coincidentally be undergoing major makeovers in recent years, and visitors are taking this opportunity to experience these churches almost as they were when they were first built, hundreds of years ago.
Keep reading, and listen to this week’s podcast, which features our visit to Chartres cathedral, Notre Dame de Paris, and the magnificent Sainte-Chapelle.
The podcast episode
Listen below, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also find the episode on iTunes or Spotify or via my website here. There’s lots of photos to appreciate as you listen, so keep scrolling.
Chartres cathedral
The cathedral of Chartres has to be seen to be believed. It’s a miracle (in the truest sense) that this place survived World War Two. The stained glass windows are mind-blowing and it’s only about an hour-long train ride from Paris. Make a beeline for this place on your next trip.
Sainte-Chapelle
In the heart of Paris, on the Île de la Cité, Sainte-Chapelle is a Gothic architectural wonder. Every year, almost a million people flock to marvel at the world-class stained glass windows. An awe-inspiring experience, which never disappoints.
Notre Dame de Paris
Only a four minute walk from Sainte Chapelle, the cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris has re-opened to universal rapturous reactions. When the light hit through the south-facing stained glass windows onto the blonde stone it was a transcendent experience. N.B. The queue to get in moves very quickly, so no need to cut in (as someone did to us).
That’s all for this week, folks. Thanks to Bertrand d’Aleman for sharing his staggering stained glass knowledge and Hannah Coyle for the additional reporting.
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