Chartres and its cathedral

[bixaorellana]

You are welcome, Bjd, and thank you!
Yes, tourist influx -- *sigh*.  In my heart of hearts, I sort of wish that only the properly appreciative would visit Chartres and similar sites. But of course that would leave out all kinds of other visitors whose sensibilities could be awakened or thrilled by such places.

At any rate, let's conclude this visit with a few shots snapped on the way back to the train station.
As you see, part of Chartres' charm is its tropical aspect ~

We missed market day ~

~ That's all! ~

[lugg]

I have been following this thread with interest - I do love a good cathedral
This one is really beautiful and your photographs are wonderful Bixa . So crisp and so interesting. The cathedral looks in a good state of repair generally and so much of it is stunning but lately I have been drawn to intricate stonework ; which Chartes has in abundance. What was the entrance charge , if any ? Was it optional or mandatory?

I am interested purely because having visited a couple of cathedrals lately and also living in a cathedral city ( or close to) I've recently thought about the huge costs associated with up keep, especially externally, but not just in terms of costs but also sourcing skilled stone masons. I've also witnessed various views being expressed by visitors on the charging policy. Looking through I could see some sympathetic restoration and some not so sympathetic but I guess important none the less.


I read up on Welborn Griffith / Griffith Welborn and the misreading of his dog tag - fascinating.

[questa]

Lugg, many moons ago Kerouac explained how the French Government pays for the upkeep of its historic sites, according to a scale. I can't find the post now, it was an answer to my question on admissions to these sites.

[Deleted]

Yes, there is no admission charge to enter any place of worship currently in use in France, and this includes all cathedrals and basilicas. There are some deconsecrated 'special' places like the Sainte Chapelle in Paris for which there is a fee when they are operated by the monuments & museum department. There is also often a fee when you want to visit a special place in a church that has nothing to do with worship, such as the towers of Notre Dame, the tombs of the kings in Saint Denis or various treasuries and crypts.

I have personally refrained from visiting some places in England because I just don't believe there should be a charge to go into a church.

[questa]

I agree with you, Kerouac, but I think a "camera charge" is justified. If someone goes into any holy place to pray, it should be free, but if their main reason in entering such a place is to take pictures and generally sight-see, a small charge is fair.

[patricklondon]

Jul 15, 2016 3:41:09 GMT kerouac2 said:

I have personally refrained from visiting some places in England because I just don't believe there should be a charge to go into a church.

There isn't if you're going to use it for the purpose for which it is intended....

[Deleted]

I thought that churches were intended to welcome everyone. Oh well.

[lagatta]

When I visited Saint-Denis (over 20 years ago) I was about the only visitor, except a few elderly people praying in the nave. Is it more visited now? (Saint-Denis is very close to a métro station).

[Deleted]

In recent years, the basilica of Saint Denis has been happy when it receives 250,000 visitors. In 2014, there were 268,000 visits.

[bixaorellana]

Thank you so much, Lugg! I agree with you about the stonework, which I found every bit as fascinating as the famous windows. In our travels, we also visited Ste-Cécile of Albi (13th century) and I was again knocked out by the stonework -- different from Chartres, but lacily intricate.

We weren't charged anything to visit any of the functioning churches. I don't know about anyplace else, but the fanciest church where I live charges big time for weddings and has at least one slated for every day of the year, which would add up. And of course all churches take up collections from their parishioners and run special drives, etc.

Thanks for the detail about the dog tag confusion, which I am going to look up.

[Lisa W.]

Is Malcolm Miller still giving tours of the cathedral? We're planning a trip to France next year & I'd love to take his tour again if possible. It's been over 30 years since he first "read" the windows & statues to me.

[Deleted]

Malcolm Miller is still doing tours in Chartres, but who knows for how much longer? He is getting on in years.

Here is the link: www.cathedrale-chartres.org/fr/malcolm-miller,article-254.html

[Deleted]

Playing catch up viewing all these fabulous threads of folks summertime travels.

Superb photos Bixa, absolutely gorgeous detail and composition.

Thank you!!!