Chartres Travel Guide
Chartres is a small town that inhabits around 38 000 people and is located one hour away from Paris. It’s a perfect place to stop if you are road tripping in France or if you have some spare time while visiting Paris.
It’s city center is a beautiful place to stroll around and nothing better that go for a long walk along the Eure, the river croissing the town.
Chartres is world-wide known for its cathedral mostly constructed between 1193 and 1250. This Gothic cathedral is in an exceptional state of preservation but what makes it unique is that the majority of its stained-glass windows are the original ones.
Table of Contents
Mapping the Chartres Travel Guide
Getting to the Chartres Travel Guide
The easiest way to get to Chartres is by car. This way you will have all the freedom you want. But if you prefer a public transportation method, Chartres is located one TER away from Gare de Paris-Montparnasse. The ride will take you 1h15min and will get you right next to the city center.
Moving Around
Chartres is obviously a small city. So, from there you will just be able to walk your way around. There are a couple of city buses if you really want though.
When to Visit
As most of the cities in France, the best time to visit is Mai, June and then September. Chartres is a famous place for Parisian to go to in order to escape the craziness of Paris. So, better avoid the summer Holidays (July, August).
You can though visit the city all year round, but the weather might not be that nice.
Where to Stay
We stayed in an amazing AirBnb and meet an amazing person there. So, we would advice you to stay there. Plus, you will get a top view of the cathedral.
What to Eat
Some of the local specialities are:
- MENTCHIKOFF: chocolate core coated with a thin layer of Swiss meringue.
- PÂTÉ DE CHARTRES: pie made of game.
- L’EURÉLIENNE: the only beer of the year 2000 made in Eure et Loire
- LA BAGUETTE RETRODOR: Made from flour without additives, resulting from a subtle blend of the best Beauce wheat
- THE HONEY OF CHARTRES
Things to do
Château de Maintenon
Visit one splendid Castle and its stunning aqueduct. Over the centuries, the castle of Maintenon has undergone many transformations. The defensive character of the primitive fortified castle was definitively erased in favor of the comfortable and modern aristocratic residence. Located 20min from Chartres and accessible by car or train.
Chartres Cathedral
Explore Chartres Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres is a Roman Catholic church. It is the seat of the Bishop of Chartres. Mostly constructed between 1194 and 1220, it stands at the site of at least five cathedrals that have occupied the site since the Diocese of Chartres was formed as an episcopal see in the 4th century. It is in the High Gothic and Romanesque styles.
The cathedral is designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, which calls it “the high point of French Gothic art” and a “masterpiece”
Jardins de l'Évêché
Stroll around the small garden in front of the cathedral. Perfect to take a small break and enjoy a wide and beautiful landscape of the city.
Marché aux Légumes + marché bio (mercredi soir)
Not open all the time, it is the center of the old town. Use it a base a stroll around the complete old city.
Porte Guillaume Chartres
Unfortunately, the gate has been destroyed and is meant to be renovated but not yet. But it is still a nice place to go to and walk along the river Eure from there.
Église Saint-Pierre
Visit The Saint-Pierre church is classified as a historical monument since 1840. Before the Revolution, it was the church of the Saint-Père-en-Vallée abbey whose remains date back to the VIIe century. The church became a parish church in 1803.
We must admit that one thing to do in France is visit all the religious building, there are all more magnificent!
Chartres en lumières
One of the most famous things to do in Chartres if the Covid-19 restriction allows you to. Walk around the city centre of Chartres to discover all its illumination. Open from April to December
Maison Picassiette
Visit The Picassiette, the house is an example of naive architecture made of mosaics of earthenware and glass cast in cement. The house was built by a single man, Raymond IsidoreNote known as Picassiette, a municipal employee of the city of Chartres, for whom he worked as a roadmender and then as a cemetery sweeper.
Les Fresques de Bel Air
In the north of Chartres, the buildings of the Bel-Air district unveil 4000m2 of trompe-l’oeil. Created by Cité-Création, the Bel-Air frescoes are composed of 16 panels representing 4 major themes representative of the identity of Chartres and its agglomeration, and more broadly of the Beauce region.
Itinerary
To visit Chartres, you will globally need a whole day.
In the Morning:
- Château de Maintenon
- Les Fresques de Bel Air
In the Afternoon :
- Chartres Cathedral
- Jardins de l’Évêché
- Marché aux Légumes + marché bio (mercredi soir)
- Porte Guillaume Chartres
- Église Saint-Pierre
- Maison Picassiette
At Night :
- Chartres en lumières
“A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles.” – Tim Cahill
