France.

Chartres Cathedral is a Gothic visit centred on remarkable surviving medieval glass, sculpted portals and two visibly different western spires. Leave time to look both outside and in.

Much of Chartres's original stained glass survives, so the windows explain the building as powerfully as its stonework. The western spires come from different periods, making the façade a readable record of change. Inside, the high nave and light show what Gothic builders were trying to achieve after construction began in the late 12th century.

• Medieval stained-glass windows remain a defining interior feature.
• The two western spires have contrasting forms and dates.
• Sculpted portals give the façades a dense layer of detail.

Compare the western spires and portals before entering to study the glass and nave.

Check the cathedral agenda before visiting; services can interrupt tourist circulation, and towers or crypt have separate arrangements.