chartres is most famous for its stained glass and statues. it's like a picture book of the entire christian story told through its art. in "the book of chartres," as some nickname the church, the text is the sculpture and windows, and its binding is the architecture. the individual figures create a cohesive ensemble, and, in this case, in a cathedral dedicated to notre dame, or our lady, it all leads to mary. here she is on her deathbed. then, angels gently whisk her upward so she can sit on the throne with jesus in paradise, where she's flanked by angels and crowned queen of heaven. the nave is vast -- over 400 feet long and the widest in france. and the gothic structure allowed for plenty of windows. chartres contains the world's largest surviving collection of medieval stained glass, with over 150 early-13th-century windows. the light pouring through these windows was mystical and encouraged meditation and prayer. stained glass was used to help teach bible stories to the illiterate medieval masses. while the faithful back then may have bee