Chartres

Chartres
/shahr"treuh, shahrt/; Fr. /shannrdd"trddeu/, n.
a city in and the capital of Eure-et-Loir, in N France, SW of Paris: cathedral. 41,251.

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City (pop., 1999: 40,361), northwestern France.

Situated on the Eure River southwest of Paris, it was the capital and centre of Druidic worship for the Carnutes, a Celtic tribe. The Normans attacked and burned the city in 858. In the Middle Ages it was held by the counts of Blois and Champagne. The city was sold to France in 1286 and was occupied by the English from 1417 to 1432. Henry IV was crowned there in 1594. The Germans held it in 1870, and it was severely damaged in World War II. Landmarks include the Gothic Chartres Cathedral.

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France
 town, capital of Eure-et-Loir département, Centre région, northwestern France, southwest of Paris. The town is built on the left bank of the Eure River, and the spires of its famous cathedral are a landmark on the plain of Beauce. Wide boulevards, bordered by elms, encircle the old town with its steep, narrow streets that lead down to picturesque houses by the river. The modern city has seen much recent growth in the neighbouring plain, which is an important route between Paris and the Loire Valley; and toward Brittany.

      The main part of the great cathedral of Notre-Dame at Chartres (Chartres Cathedral) was built in less than 30 years in the mid-13th century, when high Gothic architecture was at its purest. This gives it a unity that is almost unique. The cathedral was built to replace a 12th-century church of which only the crypt, the base of the towers, and the west facade remain. Remarkable 13th-century stained-glass windows and a Renaissance choir screen add to the beauty of the edifice. Another notable church is Saint-Pierre, built mainly in the 13th century. A museum is housed in the former Episcopal Palace, dating from the 17th and 18th centuries.

      Chartres, named after a Celtic tribe, the Carnutes, who made it their principal Druidic centre, was attacked several times by the Normans and was burned by them in 858. In the Middle Ages it became a countship and was held by the families of Blois and Champagne. The city was sold to the king of France in 1286, but during the Hundred Years' War (1337–1453), the English occupied it for 15 years. Francis I raised it to the rank of a duchy in 1528. During the Wars of Religion, the Protestants attacked it unsuccessfully. Henry IV was crowned there in 1594. During World War II, the town was severely damaged. Chartres is an administrative and commercial centre which also serves the surrounding Beauce cereal-producing region. The town is important for both its cultural and tourist activities. Modern industries include cosmetics, electronic equipment, and automobile components. The proximity of Paris has stimulated its development. Pop. (1999) city, 40,361; urban area, 130,681; (2004 est.) city, 40,300.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Chartres — Chartres …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Chartres — • Diocese in France. Comprises the department of Eure et Loir Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Chartres     Diocese of Chartres     † …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Chartres — Escudo …   Wikipedia Español

  • CHARTRES — (Heb. קרטוש), French town, about 52 mi. (85 km.) S.W. of Paris. The importance of the Jewish community in Chartres during the Middle Ages, whose existence is attested to as early as 1130, is illustrated by the numerous street names which still… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Chartres — (antigua Carnutes, Autricum, civitas Carnutum), ciudad localizada al norte de Francia central y capital del departamento de Eure et Loire. Está situada a orillas del río Eure. Es un centro agrícola y fabril en el que se produce principalmente… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Chartres [1] — Chartres (spr. schartr ), Hauptstadt des franz Depart. Eure et Loir, an der Eure, Knotenpunkt der Westbahn und mehrerer Staatsbahnlinien, ist von Boulevards an Stelle der frühern Befestigungen umgeben. Auf dem höchsten Punkte der Stadt steht die… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Chartres [1] — Chartres (spr. Schartr), 1) Arrondissement des französischen Departements Eure u. Loire; 391/4 QM., 110,000 Ew. in 7 Cantonen; 2) Hauptstadt darin u. des Departements, an der Eure; alt u. winkelig gebaut; Departementalbehörden; 2 Friedensgerichte …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Chartres [2] — Chartres, Herzog von Ch., 1) so nannte sich früher König Ludwig Philipp (s.d.); 2) Name des[878] zweiten Sohnes des Herzogs von Orleans, Robert, geb. am 9. Nov. 1840 …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Chartres [2] — Chartres (spr. schartr ), Herzog von, Titel jüngerer Prinzen des Hauses Orléans (s.d. und die Stammtafel der Bourbonen beim Art. »Bourbon«). Jetziger Träger ist der zweite Sohn des 4842 verstorbenen Herzogs von Orléans, Bruder des Grafen von… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Chartres — (spr. scharrt r), Hauptstadt des franz. Dep. Eure et Loir, an der Eure, (1901) 23.431 E.; größte Kathedrale Frankreichs. Im Altertum (Antricum) Hauptort der Carnuten, im Mittelalter (Carnutum) Hauptstadt der Landsch. Beauce und Chartrain; später… …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • Chartres [2] — Chartres (spr. scharrt r), Robert, Herzog von, geb. 9. Nov. 1840 als Sohn des Prinzen Ferdinand von Orléans, nahm auf Seite der Nordstaaten am amerik. Bürgerkriege und 1870 am Kriege gegen Deutschland teil, 1886 verbannt; schrieb: »Histoire de la …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

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