Near the end of this month of May, the town of Chartres, France (population 40,361) will be expecting 8,000 to 10,000 visitors.
It happens every year. The visitors are called pilgrims and they will be arriving by foot after a 65-mile, three-day journey from Paris.
The current pilgrimage begins at the Notre Dame de Paris and ends up at the Notre Dame de Chartres. The church dates back to the 12th century – as do the pilgrimages. Through the subsequent centuries the cathedral (which contains perhaps the most famous labyrinth) is considered one of the finest examples of Gothic style architecture and has been the centerpiece of Chartres and is included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.
The story of Chartres and its cathedral reminds us of the way history and architecture can combine over the centuries to complement cities of all sizes.
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