Notre-Dame de Chartres Cathedral (28)
"In the middle of the immense Beauce, the two high-pitched bell towers of Chartres. The cathedral all illuminated with the stones of the setting sun. Huge blaze of stones, literally like the gates of Jerusalem in the Apocalypse." - Paul Claudel
Recovery plan
The restoration of the transept, medieval decorations and stained glass windows of the Cathedral of Chartres is the major operation of the recovery plan of the ministry of culture by its size and its financial amount (€6.7 million).
It is part of the general plan of interior restoration of the Cathedral of Chartres undertaken by the DRAC since 2008.
Ten highly qualified state bodies, in the heritage restoration trades, will work on this operation: restorers of painted decoration, masons stonemasons, fellow locksmiths, restorers of stained glass.
Restaurant news
The Saint-Piat chapel and the return of the Trésor
In the 14th century, in the axis of the bedside of the cathedral Notre-Dame de Chartres is built a chapel to receive the relics of Saint Piat. Established on the first floor of a chapter room that served until the Revolution, the chapel was not assigned to the cathedral treasury until 1961, when the chapter room had been converted into a vault of the bishops since 1905. Due to inappropriate storage conditions, the treasure was closed in 2000, pending a work programme. In 2001, the restoration of the gable was carried out. As part of a preliminary study conducted in 2006-2007 by Patrice Calvel, ACMH, a Treasury redevelopment project was approved.
The exterior restoration of the entire chapel (roof, facade and stained glass windows), a prerequisite for the Treasury rehabilitation project, was completed in 2018. At the request of the DRAC, the beautiful original frame was studied by an archaeologist of the building, specialist of medieval frames. In the long term, the interior restoration of the siding and wall paintings are planned, as well as the decoration of the treasury (showcases, signage, lighting...) for a total amount of €5 million. Accessed by a straight staircase from the chancel’s ambulatory, the chapel will display, in a series of windows, ancient and modern goldsmithing and liturgical ornaments. The lapidary, including the sculpted elements of the jubé (13th century) dismantled in 1763, will be installed in the chapter room.
Restoration of the transept, medieval decoration and stained glass
La restauratiinside the cathedral
Notre-Dame de Chartres has the particularity of having preserved almost all of its 13th century interior decoration. Since 2008, the Regional Conservation of Historic Monuments (CRMH) has undertaken an ambitious restoration programme (approximately €15 million): the clearing and restoration of original coatings, and, in parallel, the restoration of stained glass windows. Today the central ship, the choir and the ambulatory are completed.
This major project will continue from 2021 through the transept (2 tranches of 14 months each, €6.7 million for this phase of work) and will end with the aisles of the nave, scheduled for 2024.
This is the major operation of the recovery plan of the Ministry of Culture by its size and its financial amount. These are dix highly qualified state corps, in the heritage restoration trades that will work on this operation: restorers of painted decorations, masons stonemasons, fellow locksmiths, window restorers. The allotment of works, notably concerning the restoration of the thirteenth century stained glass windows is planned in 6 lots. This is in order to allow access to public procurement of highly qualified craft workshops in this field and to better distribute the economic activity of this sector.
Future project
Reconstruction of large organs and restoration of the buffet
Amount of the operation €2 M including €1.2 M from the State and €0.4 M from financial participation of local authorities: Region, Department, City of Chartres, Association Chartres sanctuary of the world up to €100,000 each.
This operation was the subject of a competition whose 1st phase, for the selection of applications, took place in December 2020. The selection of the final project and the winning organ builder is scheduled for July 2021.
Work to restore the buffet and create the new instrument begins in September 2022.
Immersion in the ambulatory restoration site
This documentary takes you to the heart of the restoration site of the ambulatory of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Chartres (Eure-et-Loir) and allows you to discover the gestures of the restaurateurs of the Lithos company, filmed by Madame Savalli. It includes the main stages of restoration and the unique know-how of craftsmen operating on scaffolding inaccessible to the public.
