Just under an hour by train from Paris, Chartres is a great and convenient getaway for a day out of Paris.
The cathedral, celebrated by many writers and artists, is one of the most fundamental in medieval Gothic art.
The town, with its medieval and lively center, offers multiple attractions for strolling and shopping.
Finally, the tour will end with the discovery of the famous flower market (3 days a week).
Chartres
Description
Chartres the quiet and beautiful
Practical informations:
• Collection point: to be confirmed
• Duration: 06h
• Train / walking (For private transport, special quote required)
• Transportation and all sites tickets included.
Arrival in Chartres is after an hour by train from Paris Montparnasse.
The pilgrimage to Chartres is very old. Druids occupied a sanctuary on the site of the future cathedral more than two thousand years ago. They venerated a statue later associated with the pregnant Virgin Mary. An old legend gradually attributed miraculous virtues to it, leading to the arrival of fervent crowds and famous people, including Louis XIV himself.
This is why the different buildings constructed have always been grandiose. The current cathedral dates from the 11th to the 13th century. Its towers, more than 100m high, have long remained the tallest in the Christian world. Its architectural unity and its incredible statuary decoration have earned it a UNESCO World Heritage listing.
Finally, the stained glass windows with the famous “Chartres blue color” constitute the most complete set in the world and a testimony to medieval art. Even today, the city is the largest international center for stained glass work.
The city, capital of the Eure department, spreads out at the foot of the cathedral. Its lively center retains superb medieval and Renaissance houses, including a very impressive vaulted house transformed into a shop, as well as a food market with gastronomic products typical of the Center region. The walk will highlight the historic center but also other important buildings, civil and religious, but also the picturesque banks of the Eure, which passes below the city.
Walking around the city center will also show streets with half-timbered houses, a superb Renaissance church, and finally the flower market, which attracts many enthusiasts and which is held on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
