Construction of the door 1ère moitié XVIe siècle (≈ 1650)
Period of construction of the monument.
22 novembre 1961
Historical Monument
Historical Monument 22 novembre 1961 (≈ 1961)
Registration by ministerial decree.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
16th century gate, located in the forecourt of the school (Box D 272): inscription by decree of 22 November 1961
Key figures
Information non disponible - No character mentioned
The source text does not mention any historical actors.
Origin and history
The 16th century Gate, located in Chartres in the region Centre-Val de Loire, is considered the most beautiful example of a door of the first half of the 16th century in this city. Its footers, resting on a base, are decorated with carved capitals representing human-headed birds, eagles, angel heads and florets. These decorative elements illustrate a rich symbolism, mixing attributes of peace (trumpets, drums, rape, violin) and war (arc, carquois, gantelet, armor).
The pediment of the door, drawn by an arch in braid, is surmounted by a frieze decorated with rinceaux ending in dolphin heads, and a cornice. A leafy pinacle crowns the whole, adding to the elegance of this structure. The gate has been listed as a Historic Monument since 1961 and is located in the forecourt of a school at 6 rue des Béguines. It is owned by the commune of Chartres.
The ornamentation of this door reflects the artistic influences of the Renaissance, where the balance between warrior and peaceful motifs symbolizes the aspirations of the time. The precision of the sculptures and the quality of the architectural details make it a remarkable testimony of the art of the first half of the sixteenth century in France. The location of the door, although satisfactory, remains to be further specified for an accurate identification.
