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| Chartres | ||
| region | Center-Val de Loire | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 38.426 (2018) | |
| height | 142 m | |
no tourist info on Wikidata:  | ||
| location | ||
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Chartres, the capital of Eure-et-Loir lies on the Eure and on the railway from Paris to Brest, in a grain-rich area (Chartrain). The city is surrounded by promenades (le tour de ville) in place of the earlier fortifications. It consists of an upper town with steep, irregular streets and wooden houses with protruding gables as well as the well-built lower town with the beautiful arms square and the suburb of St.-Maurice, where the medicinal spring of Petit près is located. The main attraction for most visitors is the 12th century cathedral.
background
Chartres was called Autricum in Roman times and was the capital of the Carnutes (Carnutes) in Gallia Lugdunensis; hence the name Carnutum civitas, in the Middle Ages Carnotum. The city only appears under its current name in the 12th century. It was an early bishop's seat and in the Middle Ages the capital of the Beauce region. Henry IV conquered it in 1591 and was crowned here in 1594. - The County of Chartres had existed since the 10th century, and the Counts of Chartres also owned Blois and the Champagne. In 1218, through marriage, it became the property of Count Walter von Avesnes and then Hugos von Châtillon, whose descendants they sold to King Philip the Fair in 1286. Francis I elevated it to a duchy in 1528, and since then it has been an appanage of royal princes and princesses, since Louis XIV. The Dukes of Orléans, whose eldest son carried the title "Duke of Chartres".
getting there
By plane
The nearest airport is that Paris-Orly Airport. From there you continue by train via Paris.
By train
There are direct trains from Paris-Montparnasse several times a day. The journey to Chartres takes an average of just over an hour. The return ticket costs € 36.20 in 1st class and € 24.20 in 2nd class. However, prices vary - buying tickets just before departure is more expensive. We recommend the double-decker TER trains, which are more comfortable and offer beautiful views of the landscape.
The 1 Chartres train station has a good newspaper kiosk and a small café is sometimes open. The toilets are only open periodically, but you can find them in other places in the city.
There are few non-stop trains and these run during commuter times. As a result, they are quite often full. Most trains run from Paris to Rambouillet nonstop and then they stop at every station as far as Chartres. The travel time for one of them is 1 hour 15 minutes. Some trains only stop at Epernon and Maintenon (the small castle is worth a detour) and they cover the distance in an hour. All trains from Paris to Chartres (and on to Nogent and Le Mans) are TER trains (Regional Train Express).
By bus
In the street
Of Paris From here you take the A 10 and then the A 11 - a distance of 91 km. It is also possible to take the A 13 (direction Rouen) and then on Roquencourt triangle to swivel south on the short A 12. This goes north of Trappes into the N 10, which leads to Chartres. The N 10 is the "old" road from Paris to Chartres. In contrast to the first mentioned, this variant is toll-free, and you usually don't need much more time, especially since the N 10 has largely been extended to a dual carriageway. The A 11 and the N 10 arrive next to each other in Chartres.
mobility
Tourist Attractions
Churches
- 1 La cathédrale Notre-Dame de Chartres. The five-aisled Gothic building stands on the highest point of the city (founded in 1020, then rebuilt after a fire in 1194-1260), 130.5 m long, 46 m wide in the choir, the main nave 36.5 m high, with two magnificent, 106 and 115 m high towers, imposing facade with three gates and countless statues, also inside of serious, strictly solemn impression; including a crypt and the Notre Dame sous Terre chapel. The cathedral was included in the list of 1979 UNESCO World Heritage Site recorded.
- 3 Église catholique Saint-Aignan, 12 Place de l'Étape au Vin, 28000 Chartres. from the 16th century
Castles, chateaus and palaces
- Episcopal palace. Today it houses the Musée des Beaux-Arts (see below).
- 4 Porte Guillaume from the 14th century, formerly part of the fortifications of the city.
Buildings
- Townhouse. 17th century
- 1 theatre, Boulevard Adolphe-Chasles. By 1861.
- 5 Maison Picassiette, Quartier du Chéron, 22 rue du Repos. Tel.: 33 (0)2 37 34 10 78. The modest little house of Raymond Isidore, obsessed collector of broken china. With the broken pieces he covered floors, walls and ceilings and the furniture of his house as well as the garden. A total work of art that has been a listed building since 1982.Open: April 1 to September 30, daily except Tuesdays.
Monuments
Chartres is the birthplace of General Marceau, for whom a bronze statue was erected here in 1851.
Another monument is that of Jean Moulin, one of the leading figures in the Resistance in World War II.
Museums
- 6 Musée des Beaux-Arts, 29 Cloître Notre Dame, 28000 Chartres. Tel.: 33 2 37 90 45 80, Email: [email protected]. The museum is located in the former bishop's palace and shows classic and modern works of art as well as ancient musical instruments such as harpsichords.Open: Wed-Sat 1000-1230 and 1400--1700 (May-Oct until 1800), Thu until 2000, Sun 14-17 May-Oct until 18.Price: free entry.
Streets and squares
Very beautiful old town, in which the cathedral is also located.
Parks
- 7 Jardins de l'Évêché. Former palace garden of the Episcopal Palace. Here you can easily walk along the western arm of the Eure.Open: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
From Place Châtelet (nice view of the cathedral) you can walk north through the ramparts.
various
activities
shop
Chartres has many shops selling religious items. Most are north of the cathedral or on the streets between the cathedral and the train station.
For basic needs there is a medium sized Monoprix department store in the pedestrian area on the hill. There is groceries and other items here for the budget-conscious traveler.
Every Saturday morning on Place Billard there is a street market with many local products. Very nice old town.
kitchen
Cheap
- 1 Café Bleu, 1 Cloître Notre Dame, 28000 Chartres. Tel.: 33 2 37 36 59 60. Brasserie opposite the cathedral.
- 2 Esprit Gourmand, 6 Rue du Cheval Blanc, 28000 Chartres.
medium
Upscale
nightlife
- Hotel bar at Le Grand Monarque, 22 Place des Épars, 28000 Chartres.
accommodation
Cheap
medium
- 2 Hôtellerie Saint Yves, 3 Rue des Acacias, 28000 Chartres. Tel.: 33 2 37 88 37 40. in the old town, near the cathedral. The hotel's own car park can be reached by calling the hotel from the intercom on the moving bollards in the pedestrian zone.
Upscale
Learn
Work
security
health
Practical advice
trips
literature
Web links
- http://www.ville-chartres.fr - Chartres official website
