During your tour of the cathedral , you will be surprised by the extraordinary architectural unity of the building. From disastrous fires to resolute rebuilding, you will discover the richness of its history and will appreciate the passion of the local inhabitants and their bishops to restore numerous reversals of fortune.
This is the story Evangelised early, while Gaul was still Roman, the city of Chartres had a bishopric by the 4th century. It is supposed that the first edifice, of which we have no trace, dates from this period.
In , the Vikings destroyed the cathedral, which was nonetheless rebuilt almost immediately. Of this edifice of the 9th century remains the crypt of Saint-Lubin.
In , Charles le Chauve bequeathed the relic of the veil of the Virgin , and thereby consecrated Chartres as a great center for pilgrimage. On September 7, , a fire destroyed the cathedral. Bishop Fulbert built a vast new structure, of which the principal crypt - remains today.
In September , a large part of the city was devastated by a fire which nonetheless spared the cathedral. The base of the north tower was begun at that time. Around , the construction of the Royal Portal and the south belfry the Vieux Clocher began.
