This photo shows the west facade of the Cathedral of Notre Dame (Cathedral of Our Lady) in Chartres, France. Located about 60 miles southwest of France in the north central part of the country, Chartres is the capital city of the Department (political division of the country) of Eure-et-Loir and is located along the Eure River. The city has long been an agricultural and manufacturing center. The world famous Cathedral of Notre Dame is located atop the highest point in the city. The Cathedral, constructed in the 12th and 13th centuries, was dedicated by King Louis IX in 1260 and is the 6th church to be built on this spot. However, people have been worshipping at this site since before Roman times -- in the crypt of the Cathedral is a well that was used in Druid ceremonies. In the 9th Century, Charles II presented the town of Chartres a veil believed to belong to the Virgin Mary, and this relic (which is housed in the Cathedral) attracted pilgrims to the town. The Cathedral is famous for its stained glass windows (13th century) as well as its early Gothic statuary around the main entrance doors and its facade towers. The earlier south tower is 349 feet high while the north tower, with a more elaborate spire, reaches 377 feet. The Cathedral is fairly large -- the nave is 427 feet long and its ceiling is 120 feet high. The flying buttresses used to support the walls and roof were the first such buttresses built as an integral part of a cathedral structure.