Labyrinth


370 Thomas St, Seattle


The labyrinth at Artists at Play is a replica of the famous in Chartres Cathedral near Paris, France. The original medieval labyrinth holds many secrets. It was most likely constructed in the early 13th century, though its exact creation date remains a mystery, as no documents have yet been found, and little is known about the builders.

Labyrinth at Chartres Cathedral

Besides Seattle Center, there are more great outdoor replicas of the Chartres in Seattle:

To find more labyrinths – check the Labyrinth Locator

What is a labyrinth, actually?

A labyrinth is an ancient symbol that dates to the Bronze Age when simple 7-circuit designs began showing up in Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Asia in carvings and drawings on clay tablets, stone walls, and coins. 

But it was only in the Middle Ages when labyrinths began appearing in churches across Europe. It was adopted by the church as a substitute for the physical pilgrimage early Christians made to Jerusalem, with the most famous example being in the Cathedral of Chartres in France.