Located in a small town 50 miles southwest of Paris, the Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres is a masterpiece of Gothic architecture. It holds some of the finest medieval stained glass windows in Europe and is among the most popular tourist destinations in France. Chartres is best known for its windows, particularly its three rose windows that occupy south, west and north walls. The southern rose window and its flanking lancet windows date back to the early 13th century. They depict the Glorification of Christ with an image of Christ blessing the Evangelists and angels, who are shown individually in the lancet windows. The western rose window is the oldest in the structure, dating back to 1150. It is the most famous of Chartres' windows, depicting Jesus at the Last Judgement. To the north, the Glorification of the Virgin is represented by an image of the Virgin Mary flanked by angels and doves. Another of Chartres' famous stained glass windows is the Blue Virgin window, which shows Mary and the infant Jesus in shades of blue.
The Basilica of Saint Denis, located in a suburb just north of Paris, is one of the oldest Gothic cathedrals in Europe. Founded in the 10th century, the basilica is known for having the first stained glass rose window in Gothic architecture. The northern rose window is best known for having a depiction of the zodiac along its central panes, sometimes referred to as "the labor of the months" in that context. It is a rare feature in medieval Christian art and architecture. Although the famous rose windows of Saint Denis are frequently visited by tourists, few people know that many of the panes were replaced following the French Revolution after they were fire-damaged.
Although England's Canterbury Cathedral has many well-known stained glass windows, perhaps the most famous of them is the Redemption window. It is a massive work of cut glass depicting the Pentecost, Ascension, Resurrection, Entombment and Crucifixion of Christ in minute detail. Constructed between 1200 to 1207 AD, the window is a feat of engineering and artistry. The tall, arching shape of the window is formed by smaller panes in various shapes, from semicircular to rectangular. Between literal depictions of gospel, the Redemption window is embellished with scrolling, floral details and geometric designs. Another well-known work of stained glass at Canterbury Cathedral is the Tree of Jesse window. Located in the Corona Chapel, the Tree of Jesse window depicts the lineage of Christ from Jesse down through the ages. Although much of the original window has been lost to time, the missing portions have been faithfully reproduced.
