2026 – AFC launches the FIRST digital guide to Chartres Cathedral
In memory of Colonel Welborn Griffith and of
Servane de Layre-Mathéus.
In honor of Monika S. Riely, AFC founder and first President.
With heartfelt thanks to the authors Gary Hendrix and Ellen Shortell and numerous other contributors, as well as to all donors who make AFC’s work possible and our partners :
- the Cathedral Rectorate
- the Regional Directorate for Culture-DRAC Centre-Val de Loire
- Chartres, sanctuaire du Monde
- the Centre international du Vitrail.
Prepare your visit to Notre-Dame de Chartres today: Visit ChartresGuide.org!
Write-up for the ‘inside page’:
Explore the intricate beauty of the stained-glass windows and marvel at the unique architecture dating from the Middle Ages with the new AFC ChartresGuide.org, the first digital guide to the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Chartres in English.
The AFC ChartresGuide.org is designed for a wide range of audiences interested in visiting or learning about the Cathedral. If you are short on time or have young children, you will enjoy the “Quick Take” which will give you basic information about the history of the cathedral and its importance as a UNESCO monument.
Be inspired by its extraordinary Gothic architecture from the 12th and 13th centuries, and the vast collection of stained-glass windows and sculptures. Once you step into this unique monument, you will want to know more…
For those who have more time, the ChartresGuide.org provides scholarly information about the cathedral’s history, architecture, internal decor, its sculptures, statuary and stained glass, from the crypts to the bell towers, from the nave to the choir and transepts. Special emphasis has been given to the stained-glass windows. They can be further explored through an app developed by the Centre International du Vitrail: Lire les Vitraux de Chartres (available through the Apple Store or Google Play). It uses AI face-recognition technology to identify the windows and provide interpretation. Additional information on the architecture of the cathedral is coming soon.
We would love to receive your feedback at friendsofchartres@yahoo.com. The ChartresGuide.org is a living document. While we will be correcting the inevitable typos and a few other glitches, your feedback enables us to perfect this digital version of the ChartresGuide.org, the first of its kind.
ENJOY and THANK YOU!