Chartres, 4 october

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 Today we visited one of the great cathedrals at Chartres, 

But first a smaller church that was still painted inside , quite unusual to have all the colours.



The main  cathedral was build around the Virgin Mary's pashmina ( dated to 1bc and made of silk )  .

The item is held in a glass case behind a wrought iron gate, people were on their knees against the gate.

It was the busiest church we have visited with a group of boys brigadiers being shown around and lots of church guides with laser pointers explaining  the interior. It had a really complex series of 3D carvings around the middle , at least a meter thick and a false perspective to make them look even deeper. Lots of stories being told.

one of the  front doors 

a rather lovely golden gate
the alter

one of the stories



On the way their we got involved in a bike race, lots of minders on motorbikes came first and made us move to one side then they waved a yellow flag as the bikes swarmed towards us trying to move over but retain their place in the peloton.


it was a bit scary having them on our side of the road in a mass but they managed to move over 



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