Wondering what makes the Chartres labyrinth so famous? It is an eleven-circuit path set into a cathedral floor, with one winding route to the centre and no wrong turns.
This guide is part of our look at labyrinth design, and it focuses on one pattern.
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Circuits | 11 concentric circuits |
| Turns | 34 turns |
| Diameter | 12.9 metres (42.3 ft) |
| Path length | 261 m |
| Installed | Early 13th century |
Figures come from The Good Life France and Travelhoppers. Published measurements vary a little between sources and can change, so check the source before you rely on them.
What the Chartres labyrinth is
The labyrinth lies in the central nave of Chartres Cathedral in France. One description says it is laid in well-worn tiles, coiled in the centre of the nave, marking a long and twisting path.
It was installed at some point in the early 13th century, according to Complete France. Another account describes it as a limestone labyrinth that fills the width of the nave.
Like every labyrinth, and unlike a maze, it has no choices to make. Once you step in, the only course is to keep going, however meandering, and trust the path to lead you to the end.
The design: circuits, turns and size
The pattern has 11 concentric circuits and 34 turns, according to Travelhoppers. The same page says the pathway measures nearly 13 metres in diameter.
The Good Life France gives a more exact figure of 12.9 metres (42.3 ft), which fills the nave’s width. It also gives the length of the walking route as 261 m of path.
That length is the surprise for first-time visitors. A circle you could cross in a few strides holds a route many times longer, because the path doubles back on itself again and again.
Where the eleven circuits came from
Complete France says a monk named Otfried of Weissenburg modified the classical seven-circuit pattern by adding four extra layers. It adds that this 11-loop style became the blueprint for many medieval labyrinths across Europe.
In other words, the Chartres pattern is a medieval development of an older seven-circuit design. Its fame comes from scale and survival rather than from being the first.
How the path works
The design reads as a series of switchbacks rather than a spiral. You travel back and forth across the circle, moving closer to the centre, then away again, before the final approach.
A few features help you picture the walk:
- One entrance at the edge, which is also the only exit.
- A single unbroken route with no dead ends and no forks.
- A centre that you reach only after passing close to it and then turning away.
- Repeated reversals of direction that make the walk feel longer than the circle looks.
Travelhoppers also notes that the labyrinth is a classic example of a medieval labyrinth. That is why the pattern is so often copied when people want a traditional design.
What it may have meant
No single explanation is certain; the labyrinth is described as the subject of much mystery and surmise. Popular opinion, per The Good Life France, is that it represents the long and tortuous path pilgrims needed to follow to reach the cathedral.
Complete France gives a related reading. It describes the labyrinth as a representation of each person’s journey through the world in search of God.
Read as a walk, the design mirrors that idea. You are always moving, yet you are sometimes nearer to the centre and sometimes farther from it.
Why the design suits a slow walk
Try walking at a steady pace and using the turns as reminders to notice your feet and your breathing.
Because there are no choices, there is nothing to solve. That is the main practical difference from a maze. You can use the walk as an opportunity to practise paying attention to the present moment.
Some people like to walk with a simple question in mind. Others prefer to walk with none, and simply notice what comes up on the way in, at the centre and on the way out.
Practical points for a first walk
- Wear flat, quiet shoes, since the route is long and the surface may be uneven.
- Walk at the speed of the person ahead, and leave a comfortable gap.
- Pause at the centre for as long as you like before you turn back.
- Remember that the way out is the same route as the way in.
- If others are walking, step aside briefly to let people pass in the narrow path.
These are general walking habits rather than rules from the cathedral. Any site that hosts a labyrinth may have its own guidance, so follow what is posted there.
What to look for if you copy the pattern
If you plan to make a Chartres-style labyrinth, start from the features that define it. Count the circuits, keep the single entrance, and make sure the route never branches.
The pattern is built from a cross that divides the circle into quadrants, with the path folding back through each one. Getting the proportions right matters more than the material, whether you use stone, paint, rope or mown grass.
Most home versions are far smaller than the original, which is fine. A smaller labyrinth keeps the same sequence of turns; it simply has narrower paths and a shorter walk.
Keep the paths wide enough for a person to walk comfortably, and leave room around the edge so the entrance is easy to find. These points are common sense for any builder rather than measurements taken from Chartres.
Walking it, and copying it
Visiting is not always simple. The Good Life France says that the labyrinth is covered by chairs most of the time because the cathedral is a working church, and that on summer Fridays you can see it uncovered and walk it.
Because of that, many people walk a copy instead. Christ Church Cathedral in Ottawa describes its labyrinth as a replica of the 13th century eleven-circuit labyrinth at Chartres, and it invites people to walk it together or alone.
If you want to make one yourself, our guide to build a labyrinth covers the practical steps. For the wider story of how the form spread, see the history of labyrinths.
This site is independent and is not connected to the cathedral or to any organisation named here.
Frequently asked questions
How many circuits does the Chartres labyrinth have?
Show answer
Travelhoppers counts eleven concentric circles, with a total of 34 turns along the route.
How big is the Chartres labyrinth?
Show answer
The Good Life France gives 12.9 metres (42.3 ft) across, filling the width of the nave, with about 261 m of path.
When was it made?
Show answer
The sources used here place it in the early 13th century and give no exact date.
Is the Chartres labyrinth a maze?
Show answer
No. A maze offers choices and dead ends, while this labyrinth has one route from edge to centre.
