It is amazing how much there is to learn out there in the world today. I didn't know about this UNESCO World Heritage site called Chartres until I watched this NatGeo documentary on ancient megastructures called Chartres.
It is a Gothic style cathedral made almost 800 years ago. Located almost 100 kms from Paris, it is shaped in the form of a cross. The documentary focused on the architectural features of the cathedral - many of which I didn't know about. I've seen Notre Dame in Paris but I had no idea about why the cathedrals in the Gothic style were shaped the way they were, the significance behind the butresses outside, the pointed archways, the blue windows, the rose representing Mother Mary - all this was new to me.
I hope to go and see this cathedral one day. It is said that Napoleon said that even an aetheist would feel uncomfortable in this place. It was meant to impress and astound and to show the power of the church, which was at loggerheads with the French aristocracy. The main issue: taxation of the areas around the Cathedral and the town by the church.
All in all a good documentary to see. National Geographic sure does do a good job with their documentaries. I hope to see a few on some Indian megastructures as well. I saw one on the Taj Mahal, but I really want to see one on Red Fort in Delhi and the Jama Masjid.
Another place that I've seen on Nat Geo is Cambodia and the Angkor Wat temple there. That looks superb and I hope to see Phnom Penh one day!!
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