Cathédrale Notre Dame de Chartres
No need for a tour booking or guide – just purchase your train ticket for an easy trip of just over an hour from Paris Montparnasse station. You will relish the scenic journey through glowing yellow rapeseed fields, little villes and rolling farmlands on your way to “The Capital of Light and Perfume”. Of course, the magnificent Cathédrale de Notre-Dame de Chartres is the major gem and attraction of the city – a UNESCO World Heritage site – but many appealing sights and experiences await you.
Beyond the storied cathedral and stunning stained glass throughout Chartres; the charming architecture, riverside setting and ancient cobbled lanes will fill your memory bank for years to come. Choose from a delightful array of crêperies, sidewalk cafés (perhaps in the shadow of the soaring cathedral) and gourmet restaurants for lunch and dinner.
My favorite is no longer – a gorgeous restaurant tucked along the scenic narrow banks of the Eure River. Still, you must wander along the river, over a little humped bridge and among half-timbered houses with flowers guiding the way. Beautiful!